12 January 2015
Outer Space Mining – To Infinity and Beyond!
We all know last year wasn't a particularly great year for the
mining industry, anywhere in the world….. So now that we're heading
into 2015, will we be looking towards a slow start to the industry
worldwide or should we be looking up to the stars?
The concept of mining the moon and mining asteroids has been
around for quite a few years. Many 'Astropreneurs' like Richard
Branson and James Cameron have been investing heavily into outer
space endeavours, and companies like Planetary Resources and Deep
Space Industries estimate they will have the technology ready for
it to be economically viable to start mining in space as early as
2020. That's only 5 years away! Don't worry - time flies! It's
almost Easter!
Like the slogan on a t-shirt we used to have at Uni stated,
"Earth First - We'll Mine the other Planets later"! Platinum group
metals are being mined from asteroids that have crashed on Earth,
so effectively we've been mining asteroids for centuries. We've
been mining them on Earth, so it's about time we did it from
space!
Is Space the new Frontier?
Should we be considering outer space as a new location for the
mining industry?? What would be the FIFO roster? I wonder what the
"camp" food would be like? Better have a good gym!!
The next 5 years might just be the perfect time for us all to
think about how our experience in the mining industry can be used
in the future to mine outer space…. And what other knowledge you
might like to gain to give you an opportunity to work in the same
industry… just in a completely different place to that which you
ever thought you would!
Or do we just need to hang in there a little bit longer?
According to IBISWorld, while the end of 2014 and the start of 2015
will see an overall decline of 1.1 per cent in Australian mining
revenues to approximately $232 billion, the 2015/16 financial year
is pegged to quickly ratchet up, growing 7.1 per cent, with
expectations for this upwards trend to continue into the following
financial year with 2016/17 predicted to record an 8.4 per cent
increase in revenues as recovery continues. The "Doubting Thomas"
in most of us will believe it when we see it……
We may not need to swap our hard hats and high-vis for space
suits and dehydrated meals just yet!
Mining may have been slowing down world wide - it's now time to
start looking up!
To Infinity and Beyond!