A US-based private aerospace company, AstroForge, is set to launch its second spacecraft, Odin, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on February 26. The mission aims to capture images of the near-Earth asteroid 2022 OB5 using black-and-white cameras from a distance of 0.6 miles.
The asteroid, classified as an M-type and believed to contain up to 117,000 tons of platinum, is considered a significant target for commercial mining. AstroForge’s CEO, Matt Gialich, estimates that the mission could be “the biggest business ever conceived” if successful.
Odin will separate from the Falcon 9 rocket after 45 minutes of flight time and begin its solo journey to capture images of the asteroid. The spacecraft is equipped with cameras and an estimated cost of $6.5 million. AstroForge plans to use these images to measure the asteroid’s density and metallic content.
The mission is expected to last over 300 days, with Odin returning to Earth with images that could determine whether the asteroid is indeed metallic. This would provide a significant source of platinum for centuries, with one asteroid estimated to contain enough platinum to meet global demand for 680 years.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/astroforce-odin-asteroid-platinum-mining-9853120