Overview
- Led by Dr. Josep M. Trigo-Rodríguez, an ICE-CSIC team published MNRAS results on Jan. 2 after mass spectrometry of six common carbonaceous chondrite classes.
- The study concludes most carbonaceous (C-type) asteroids contain low abundances of precious metals, challenging expectations of lucrative near-term metal extraction.
- Water-rich carbonaceous asteroids are identified as more realistic targets, offering in-space propellant and life-support resources for future missions.
- Asteroids with strong olivine and spinel spectral bands are flagged as potential candidates for operations despite the limited metal yields in typical C-type bodies.
- The authors urge additional sample-return missions and substantial advances in microgravity extraction, collection, and waste management, citing lessons from Hayabusa and OSIRIS-REx and the planned Tianwen-2 mission.