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Asteroids and asteroid mining
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Clare wrote: "Which are your favourite asteroid belt books? ..."
I think Heinlein began the notion of belters in the tradition of gold rush prospectors in space, hardscrabble, cantankerous loners. It permeates a lot of his future histories short stories.
In modern times, the early books of The Expanse, e.g. Leviathan Wakes, centers on asteroid mining, though it's treated more as an "outer planets" thing. Mining is more "blow it up. collect the pieces, haul it all to a refinery to be sorted out." In addition to REE's for Earth, Ice is valuable everywhere else in the solar system. (Several of the larger asteroids – or dwarf planets as is the modern term.) have been completely hollowed out by mining – and then populated inside as giant space stations, e.g. Ceres & Eros.
Most recently, Michael Flynn publsihed In Panic Town, on the Backward Moon in Mission: Tomorrow, reprinted in Clarkesworld last month.
I wish I could remember more, it's a pretty common theme, but more in short stories than novels, I think.
One legal note: The UN Treaty on Space (aka "space law") forbids anyone from claiming ownership of any celestial resource in space. Not sure how you can mine anything until that's disposed of (which, I think, that first nrillionaire will do unilaterally. :)
I think Heinlein began the notion of belters in the tradition of gold rush prospectors in space, hardscrabble, cantankerous loners. It permeates a lot of his future histories short stories.
In modern times, the early books of The Expanse, e.g. Leviathan Wakes, centers on asteroid mining, though it's treated more as an "outer planets" thing. Mining is more "blow it up. collect the pieces, haul it all to a refinery to be sorted out." In addition to REE's for Earth, Ice is valuable everywhere else in the solar system. (Several of the larger asteroids – or dwarf planets as is the modern term.) have been completely hollowed out by mining – and then populated inside as giant space stations, e.g. Ceres & Eros.
Most recently, Michael Flynn publsihed In Panic Town, on the Backward Moon in Mission: Tomorrow, reprinted in Clarkesworld last month.
I wish I could remember more, it's a pretty common theme, but more in short stories than novels, I think.
One legal note: The UN Treaty on Space (aka "space law") forbids anyone from claiming ownership of any celestial resource in space. Not sure how you can mine anything until that's disposed of (which, I think, that first nrillionaire will do unilaterally. :)
The Apollo missions brought back moon rock so you can bring back materials while not claiming to own the place where they originated. I suspect it will be a case of first to exploit is de facto owner.
Well done Japan! Hopping mini robots land on asteroid and send back photos and video.https://www.space.com/41957-japan-ama...
https://www.geekwire.com/2018/check-c...
I've been reading about those hopping robots with interest. Very cool. Dealing with micro-gravity is pretty wild.
G33z3r wrote: "One legal note: The UN Treaty on Space (aka "space law") forbids anyone from claiming ownership of any celestial resource in space. Not sure how you can mine anything until that's disposed of (which, I think, that first nrillionaire will do unilaterally. :)"Yeah, the UN has no authority off earth and very little on it. When I start my mars colony they can kiss my asteroid. :p
Any part of Mars interest you in particular?
Good choice! You will be looking to the Poles particularly. Me, I might go for the region around Mt Olympus and snuggle in to a lava tube.
I don't know if anyone has read Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Asteroids
I haven't... I don't think I ever saw it on sale here, and as a young person I did think it sounded a bit patronising. I might have been wrong.
Clare wrote: "I don't know if anyone has read Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Asteroids ..."I have & didn't care much for it or the other books in the series. Heinlein's juveniles might have spoiled me, but these were pretty awful.
Asimov was good at communicating science and some of his shorts were great - such as those that made up the original Foundation books - but his novels tended not to be great. Glad you can assure me I didn't miss much.
Clare wrote: "Asimov was good at communicating science and some of his shorts were great - such as those that made up the original Foundation books - but his novels tended not to be great. Glad you can assure me..."
The Lucky Starr series (which Asimov cleverly wrote under a pen name, probably anticipating it wouldn't come out well) were a calculated attempt to replicate the Tom Swift series from before the war. (That series soon returned after the war, also, Tom added swiftly.) I read one of each once, have long forgotten it.
The Lucky Starr series (which Asimov cleverly wrote under a pen name, probably anticipating it wouldn't come out well) were a calculated attempt to replicate the Tom Swift series from before the war. (That series soon returned after the war, also, Tom added swiftly.) I read one of each once, have long forgotten it.
Thanks, good titles. I keep forgetting how many books CJ Cherryh wrote.
I read the Lucky Starr series. They were pretty entertaining.
If I ever see one I will give it a try.
Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy
Books mentioned in this topic
Heavy Time (other topics)Up Against It (other topics)
Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Asteroids (other topics)
Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Asteroids (other topics)
Leviathan Wakes (other topics)
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https://singularityhub.com/2018/09/27...
Quote:
"Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson famously said that the first trillionaire will be the “person who exploits the natural resources on asteroids.” "
Which are your favourite asteroid belt books?
Here is a non fiction look at rare earth elements REEs which are what the miners would intend to exploit; see my review. Gold and tin are not worth much compared to these metals.
The Elements of Power: Gadgets, Guns, and the Struggle for a Sustainable Future in the Rare Metal Age