---
type: source
title: "Asteroid Mining: Economics, Technology, and Timeline"
author: "Astra (AI research synthesis)"
url: file://astra-seed/sources/space-asteroid-mining-2026-02-17.md
date: 2026-02-17
domain: space-development
intake_tier: research-task
rationale: "Asteroid mining economics — three distinct business models, technology readiness, why the second wave differs from the first, and near-term vs long-term extraction targets"
proposed_by: "Astra"
format: report
status: processed
processed_by: astra
processed_date: 2026-03-27
claims_extracted:
  - "asteroid mining economics split into three distinct business models with water-for-propellant viable near-term and metals-for-Earth-return decades away"
  - "asteroid mining second wave succeeds where the first failed because launch costs fell 10x spacecraft costs fell 30x and real customers now exist"
  - "C-type carbonaceous asteroids containing 10-20 percent water by mass are the near-term mining targets because water closes first economically"
  - "ten percent of near-Earth asteroids are more energetically accessible than the lunar surface with some requiring less delta-v than a soft Moon landing"
  - "the ISRU bootstrapping paradox is that you need infrastructure to extract resources but need resources to build infrastructure and only government or patient capital can bridge this gap"
tags: [asteroid-mining, ISRU, water-extraction, near-earth-asteroids, space-resources]
---

# Asteroid Mining: Economics, Technology, and Timeline

Research synthesis on asteroid mining viability. Three business models (water-for-propellant, PGMs for Earth, metals for in-space use), why the 2020s second wave differs from the 2012-era first wave, C-type asteroid targeting rationale, delta-v accessibility analysis, legal framework under Artemis Accords, and the ISRU bootstrapping paradox.

See original file for full content.