Method, apparatus, and system for asteroid prospecting and mining
US9266627B1 · kind B1 · utility
25Cited by
5References
19Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 24, 2013 |
| Grant date | Feb 23, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 5, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/1064
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of prospecting asteroids for mining includes (a) launching at least one spacecraft, the spacecraft including a space telescope; (b) examining a plurality of asteroids using the space telescope to gather scientific data on the asteroids for characterization and cataloging; and (c) selecting one or more asteroids to mine from the plurality of asteroids examined by the space telescope and contained within the catalog. A system for prospecting asteroids for mining is also described.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.