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Space-Based Resources | Resource Acquisition & Utilization

Home Space Resources

Space Resources

Space both near and far is full of all the resources we need to survive and thrive as we expand into our solar system. Now is the time for us to learn to access, process, and utilize them.

A primary research interest of the Institute for Space Development Research is in the location, acquisition, and utilization of space based resources for use by human settlements, operations, and for "export" to Earth. We are very interested in the way that resources from space can be used to alleviate resource pressures on Earth and create a space-economy.

Space Resource Study (SPARES)

What and where are the available resources and how can we use them?

The Institute for Space Development Research has launched the Space Resource Study to thoroughly investigate the near-Earth system and assess the resources available within it. This system extends from just inside Earth orbit to the asteroid belt just beyond Mars.

Find out more about the SPARES Project Here

Earth / Space Resource & Commodity Analysis and Forecasting

The institute is interested in Earth-based resources / commodities and their futures with the potential for obtaining these same resources / commodities from space. In particular, we are looking both at the data / projections about Earth-based supplies, reserves, and market costs as well as the costs and other considerations related to obtaining them from space. We do this in the interest of projecting when and how it will become economically sensible to begin acquiring that resource in space. Chances are the early use of space resources will be almost entirely in space to support emerging industry there. However, as space infrastructure develops and acquisition costs are reduced, it will eventually become profitable to deliver some resources for use on Earth.

We are also looking at the ways in which technology, products, and markets might be affected by the acquisition in space of large quantities of resources that are much more rare on Earth. The are a number of potential technologies already available that are generally cost ineffective to make available on a large scale because they utilize a resource that is too scarce or expensive on Earth already.

Rare-Earth Metals

New technologies now emerging on the world stage are increasingly reliant on rare-earth metals that are difficult to source in quantity on Earth. Currently, China provides nearly 97% of the world's rare-earth metal supply and is keeping a full 60% of what they mine. Western nations are on the verge of being highly dependent on Chinese rare-earth metals for high-technology manufacturing.

Resourcing Space: In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)

As humans move into space to work and live, we'll need to find ways to use the local environments to survive. Additionally, a space economy will need to be established in which resources are shared among different locations, including Earth. The Institute for Space Development Research is particularly interested in:

"Living off the land". How we make use of what we find.
Robotic resource acquisition.
In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU).
Development of habitats and structures in space settlements.
Resource location, quantification, & assessment.
Space-based mining, asteroid mining.
Logistics of resource use and sharing, economic development in space.

Space Resource Mining

Space-based mining capability and the processing of resources as well as space-based manufacturing are critical to the development of an economically self-supporting space infrastructure. The space environment presents many challenges to mining and resource extraction. Considerable research is required to solve problems in astrodynamics, technology and tooling, and transport.

Space-Based Processing & Manufacturing

In time, space operations and development will require the capability to process raw materials and manufacture useful products from them. Significant early demand will be for fuels, air/water, and base metals for infrastructure manufacturing and assembly. In time, these activities will lead to the possibility of "export" to Earth.

Please Consider Contributing to the Institute for Space Development Research

We hope you'll consider contributing or donating to the non-profit efforts of the Institute for Space Development Research. Our work supports the effort to explore and develop the near-Earth environment for the benefit of Earth and humanity, research human settlement and space-based resource acquisition, and remove barriers for private industry while creating technical jobs, economic opportunity, and supporting the next generation.