A photo from open sources
Representatives of the American commercial organization “Planetary Resources, a search for mining opportunities fossils outside of our planet have stated that experimental aircraft called Arkyd 3 Reflight “successfully dropped from the International Space Station.
The first “Arkyd 3 Reflight” planned to be transported to the ISS a year ago, however, the device was destroyed by a rocket explosion “Antares”. As for the current instance, it turned out to be board a space station three months ago. He was delivered there Disposable launch vehicle “Falcon 9”.
The Arkyd 3 Reflight mission will last three months. An experimental unmanned vehicle will be tested basic systems: controls, aerospace electronics, on-board software, stabilization systems and so Further.
A photo from open sources
The main activity of “Planetary Resources” is aimed at mining minerals in the bowels of asteroids. Drone new as times called to dock with the heavenly moving in space bodies, drill them and extract ore. First of all, it’s about rhodium, platinum and iridium, it eats the most valuable minerals, which few on Earth, although nickel and iron also represent in run significant value.
Recall that yesterday an asteroid flew near the Earth “2011 UW-158 “, consisting of hundreds of millions of tons of platinum and other noble metals. Experts have estimated the cost of “filling” five and a half trillion dollars of celestial body. Unfortunately, so far no country has the technology to catch such an asteroid and deliver its contents to Earth. But probably, that tomorrow it will become quite commonplace …
ISS Rocket
