[Paper Review] ASIME 2018 White Paper. In-Space Utilisation of Asteroids: Asteroid Composition -- Answers to Questions from the Asteroid Miners

A. L. Graps, Angel Abbud-Madrid+42 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Apr 25, 2019

Astro and Planetary Science20 references4 citations

TL;DR

This white paper synthesizes scientific consensus from the ASIME 2018 workshop on asteroid composition, addressing 21 critical questions from asteroid mining companies. It evaluates remote sensing data, identifies limitations in Earth-based spectral analysis, and outlines next steps for improving in-situ and laboratory measurements to support future in-space resource utilization missions.

ABSTRACT

In keeping with the Luxembourg government's initiative to support the future use of space resources, ASIME 2018 was held in Belval, Luxembourg on April 16-17, 2018. The goal of ASIME 2018: Asteroid Intersections with Mine Engineering, was to focus on asteroid composition for advancing the asteroid in-space resource utilisation domain. What do we know about asteroid composition from remote-sensing observations? What are the potential caveats in the interpretation of Earth-based spectral observations? What are the next steps to improve our knowledge on asteroid composition by means of ground-based and space-based observations and asteroid rendez-vous and sample return missions? How can asteroid mining companies use this knowledge? ASIME 2018 was a two-day workshop of almost 70 scientists and engineers in the context of the engineering needs of space missions with in-space asteroid utilisation. The 21 Questions from the asteroid mining companies were sorted into the four asteroid science themes: 1) Potential Targets, 2) Asteroid-Meteorite Links, 3) In-Situ Measurements and 4) Laboratory Measurements. The Answers to those Questions were provided by the scientists with their conference presentations and collected by A. Graps or edited directly into an open-access collaborative Google document or inserted by A. Graps using additional reference materials. During the ASIME 2018, first day and second day Wrap-Ups, the answers to the questions were discussed further. New readers to the asteroid mining topic may find the Conversation boxes and the Mission Design discussions especially interesting.

Motivation & Objective

• To address critical knowledge gaps in asteroid composition for in-space resource utilization, particularly for asteroid mining ventures.
• To evaluate the reliability and limitations of Earth-based spectral observations in determining asteroid mineralogy and volatile content.
• To identify key scientific and engineering challenges in transitioning from remote sensing to in-situ and sample return missions.
• To provide actionable scientific guidance for asteroid mining companies based on current observational and laboratory data.
• To bridge the gap between planetary science and space engineering by translating scientific findings into mission-relevant insights.

Proposed method

• Compilation of expert responses from 44 scientists and engineers at the ASIME 2018 workshop, organized into four thematic categories: potential targets, meteorite analogs, in-situ measurements, and laboratory analysis.
• Synthesis of data from ground-based telescopic observations, space-based missions (e.g., Dawn, Hayabusa), and meteorite studies to assess compositional inferences.
• Use of open-access collaborative documentation (Google Docs) to collect and edit answers in real time during the workshop.
• Integration of conference presentations, wrap-up discussions, and additional reference materials to ensure scientific accuracy and completeness.
• Application of spectral analysis techniques (e.g., visible and infrared reflectance) to interpret asteroid surface composition from remote sensing.
• Evaluation of mission design trade-offs based on compositional data, including target selection and resource extraction feasibility.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 What are the most promising asteroid types for in-situ resource utilization based on current compositional data?
• RQ2 How reliable are Earth-based spectral observations in identifying water, silicates, and metals on asteroids?
• RQ3 What are the key uncertainties and systematic errors in interpreting remote-sensing data for asteroid mining applications?
• RQ4 What in-situ measurement techniques are most effective for validating remote compositional estimates?
• RQ5 How can laboratory analyses of meteorites improve the interpretation of asteroid spectral data?

Key findings

• S-type asteroids are rich in silicates and metals, making them prime targets for industrial resource extraction, though their composition varies significantly across the main belt.
• C-type and D-type asteroids show higher water and organic content, with C-type asteroids being the most abundant and promising for in-situ propellant production.
• Earth-based spectral observations are limited by atmospheric interference, low spatial resolution, and model dependency, leading to potential misclassification of surface materials.
• In-situ measurements using spectrometers and drill-based sampling are essential for reducing uncertainty in compositional estimates, especially for volatile and metallic components.
• Laboratory analysis of meteorites provides critical calibration data for remote sensing, but not all meteorite types are representative of near-Earth asteroid populations.
• The integration of multiple data sources—remote sensing, in-situ measurements, and meteorite studies—is essential for accurate asteroid resource assessment and mission planning.