Though extraction of raw materials on asteroids is connected with a set of difficulties, some scientists believe that it will become possible not only, but even profitable already to the middle of the 21st century. Industrial development of asteroids is especially relevant as reserves of minerals on Earth gradually decrease.
Researches of some asteroids showed that these celestial bodies can contain huge amount of minerals, among which nickel, iron, cobalt, palladium, platinum, manganese, gold, molybdenum and so forth. Moreover, according to opinion of some scientists, a part of the ores extracted on Earth arrived to the planet from space during "asteroid bombing". The large asteroid can replace the huge field, and the population of Earth will have enough the minerals extracted from it for several years.
To extract raw materials in space, it is necessary to find a suitable celestial body at first. The asteroid has to be rather near Earth that the way did not take too much time there and back and did not demand heavy expenses. At the same time it is desirable that a row could be found water as it will allow to lower considerably costs of transportation of the substances necessary for survival. And, certainly, the asteroid has to be rich with minerals.
Having found the suitable "space field", it is necessary to choose a way of mining. Main options three. If on a surface of a celestial body there are breed fragments, they can be got in the open way. It means that on an asteroid it is necessary to create something like a terrestrial pit in which will split up breed and to bring it to special storage. If it is established that minerals are in asteroid depth, it is necessary to build the mine complemented with the systems capable automatically to deliver the extracted materials to a surface. And, at last, if it was succeeded to find out that the asteroid is covered with small metal splinters and a crumb, metal can be collected by means of a special magnet. Extraction of raw materials on asteroids requires the special equipment. First, it has to be automatic that will allow to minimize intervention of the person in work process. Secondly, this equipment has to work in outer space. And, at last, it is necessary to consider that because of too low gravitation the asteroid can appear is not able to hold large devices, and they should be attached to a surface somehow reliably.