Spring Break
Comets as important a resource as asteroids
Scott Conover
Issue date: 5/27/09 Section: Forum
Asteroids, without doubt, are the source of incredible resources in space. From valuable metals to living space, asteroids represent the new homes of future space settlers.
However, asteroids are not the only useful object to be found and harvested in space. Comets may also serve a useful purpose to those who seek to master the resources of the stars. Often containing valuable minerals and very likely water, comets are yet another opportunity awaiting settlers in space.
Comets and asteroids are both highly useful in resource extraction; yet, it is important to note that they have distinctly different compositions. The Rosetta project FAQ provides a very simple distinction between the two: "Comets are called 'dirty ice-balls', whereas asteroids, or minor planets, are 'rocks in space' … One of the main differences is that asteroids do not contain 'volatiles' (substances that 'sublimate' i.e. they pass directly from the solid to the gaseous state when heated) or other frozen material…"
Essentially, comets tend to contain water and icy compounds; in contrast, asteroids tend to be composed of rocky materials and metals. Comets are evidently found largely towards the edge of our solar system, often past Neptune. Only rarely are they found in the inner part of our solar system.
Many comets evidently possess a large amount of water and could be extracted by space settlers. According to an article at Space.com, comets may have provided Earth with a large amount of her water supply, apparently by crashing into the surface of the Earth for millions of years.
Although most comets are located far from Earth, there may be sources of water located on comets which have settled into stable orbits in the solar system. Many comets that lose sublimating substances on their surface are indistinguishable from normal asteroids. Comets which lose most or all of their icy materials are called "extinct" comets, while those comets which retain a substantial amount of ice under the surface are called dormant comets.
However, asteroids are not the only useful object to be found and harvested in space. Comets may also serve a useful purpose to those who seek to master the resources of the stars. Often containing valuable minerals and very likely water, comets are yet another opportunity awaiting settlers in space.
Comets and asteroids are both highly useful in resource extraction; yet, it is important to note that they have distinctly different compositions. The Rosetta project FAQ provides a very simple distinction between the two: "Comets are called 'dirty ice-balls', whereas asteroids, or minor planets, are 'rocks in space' … One of the main differences is that asteroids do not contain 'volatiles' (substances that 'sublimate' i.e. they pass directly from the solid to the gaseous state when heated) or other frozen material…"
Essentially, comets tend to contain water and icy compounds; in contrast, asteroids tend to be composed of rocky materials and metals. Comets are evidently found largely towards the edge of our solar system, often past Neptune. Only rarely are they found in the inner part of our solar system.
Many comets evidently possess a large amount of water and could be extracted by space settlers. According to an article at Space.com, comets may have provided Earth with a large amount of her water supply, apparently by crashing into the surface of the Earth for millions of years.
Although most comets are located far from Earth, there may be sources of water located on comets which have settled into stable orbits in the solar system. Many comets that lose sublimating substances on their surface are indistinguishable from normal asteroids. Comets which lose most or all of their icy materials are called "extinct" comets, while those comets which retain a substantial amount of ice under the surface are called dormant comets.
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