Comments on: Want to earn a college degree in mining in space? You can! https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/want-to-earn-a-college-degree-in-mining-in-space-you-can/ Wed, 08 Aug 2018 21:24:39 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Edward https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/want-to-earn-a-college-degree-in-mining-in-space-you-can/#comment-1057189 Wed, 08 Aug 2018 21:24:39 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=53009#comment-1057189 wayne,
The students in your linked Robotic Mining Competition video demonstrated an important lesson in how difficult it is when the hardware is completely inaccessible. The Minnesota team lost their conveyor belt almost immediately with the first bucket load of crushed volcanic rock, and the Utah students lost the entire robot almost immediately to being stuck in the sandy soil.

The Spirit Mars rover fell victim to a fate similar to the Utah robot. Problems that might easily be corrected, if people were there, can be the bane of planetary research. Curiosity’s drill problem may be an easy fix, if Curiosity were accessible, but it has reduced the amount of science that Curiosity is capable of. China’s Yutu lunar rover also succumbed to trouble early in its mission.

The school of hard knocks teaches not only students but rocket scientists and rover engineers, too.

]]> By: wayne https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/want-to-earn-a-college-degree-in-mining-in-space-you-can/#comment-1057144 Wed, 08 Aug 2018 02:11:29 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=53009#comment-1057144 MarcusZ1967–
followed some links, from your links…

Northstar Robotics
2018 NASA RMC Competition Run #1
https://youtu.be/GVxPgkX-MbU
15:00

]]> By: MarcusZ1967 https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/want-to-earn-a-college-degree-in-mining-in-space-you-can/#comment-1057140 Wed, 08 Aug 2018 00:12:04 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=53009#comment-1057140 LocalFluff-

Agree! Good stuff for 2014.

Cat/NASA has been working together since 2004-07 time.

https://www.caterpillar.com/en/news/caterpillarNews/innovation/nasa-caterpillar-collaboration-for-technology-advancement.html

https://www.universetoday.com/12234/heavy-construction-on-the-moon/

]]> By: wayne https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/want-to-earn-a-college-degree-in-mining-in-space-you-can/#comment-1057128 Tue, 07 Aug 2018 18:22:46 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=53009#comment-1057128 LocalFluff–
good stuff.

I rather think the focus of “mining” in Space is going to initially revolve around Aggregate’s, (i.e. ‘sand & gravel,’ and ice in particular,) mined in place, and immediately used (with the least processing possible) for basic survival. Harvesting tons of platinum in Space sounds great, but it’s never (never ever) coming back to the Earth.

Outland
1981 (opening excerpt)
https://youtu.be/-J8mOOtS7XI
9:00

]]> By: Localfluff https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/want-to-earn-a-college-degree-in-mining-in-space-you-can/#comment-1057126 Tue, 07 Aug 2018 17:35:36 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=53009#comment-1057126 The further into the future it is to be realized, the more important is it to start out now now now! Roaaarrr! :-)

I like this lecture by a mining researcher (Leslie Gertsch) who lines up the huge problems, compared with traditional mining on Earth. No gravity (to crush rocks), no water (to transport stuff). Putting a Caterpillar on an asteroid wouldn’t do any good. This is a completely new kind of business. Rio Tinto better look out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2UV_rVIS10

]]> By: wayne https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/want-to-earn-a-college-degree-in-mining-in-space-you-can/#comment-1057094 Tue, 07 Aug 2018 02:58:20 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=53009#comment-1057094 let’s go for a drive….

Driving the Eisenhower Pass (I-70) in Colorado
https://youtu.be/iLSRVaqG5-o
4:44

]]> By: wodun https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/want-to-earn-a-college-degree-in-mining-in-space-you-can/#comment-1057091 Tue, 07 Aug 2018 02:50:15 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=53009#comment-1057091 Since everything is so theoretical at this point, advance degrees seem uncalled for.

]]> By: Gary M. https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/want-to-earn-a-college-degree-in-mining-in-space-you-can/#comment-1057088 Tue, 07 Aug 2018 02:23:32 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=53009#comment-1057088 I took a bit of time and looked at the links guys. Yup looks like the real deal first class engineering school with a ton of history I was not aware of. Mark me impressed too.

]]> By: wayne https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/want-to-earn-a-college-degree-in-mining-in-space-you-can/#comment-1057085 Tue, 07 Aug 2018 00:19:52 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=53009#comment-1057085 Gary M / MarcusZ1967–
It’s an actual engineering-school and one of the top mining schools in the world.

Colorado School of Mines
Jack Leg Patty 2013
https://youtu.be/O1kBRtIAaGE
3:03

]]> By: Steve Golson https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/want-to-earn-a-college-degree-in-mining-in-space-you-can/#comment-1057084 Tue, 07 Aug 2018 00:04:57 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=53009#comment-1057084 Colorado School of Mines, or just “Mines” as it is often called, is an outstanding public engineering school. They have a strong emphasis on earth science including mining and petroleum exploration. Students are taught a great deal about profitability and the economics of engineering. That’s capitalism at its finest.

Read about some of the unique Mines traditions here https://www.mines.edu/about/history-and-traditions/

]]> By: MarcusZ1967 https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/want-to-earn-a-college-degree-in-mining-in-space-you-can/#comment-1057081 Mon, 06 Aug 2018 23:20:00 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=53009#comment-1057081 Gary M,

Just from reading their website, I find myself very impressed!

http://www.mines.edu

]]> By: Gary M. https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/want-to-earn-a-college-degree-in-mining-in-space-you-can/#comment-1057077 Mon, 06 Aug 2018 22:30:22 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=53009#comment-1057077 “Although Lange raises tough questions, Abbud-Madrid has tapped him to teach in the Space Resources program because to succeed any mining project – whether on Earth or the moon – must consider its investors and customers.”

I am not familiar with the college campus culture at the Colorado School of Mines but this capitalist perspective gives this a chance of being successful. I fear the higher ups in the University system might squash the for profit aspect out of the curriculum.

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