(CBS News) It's not science fiction. Some well-known investors want to send robots into space, land on asteroids and dig for precious metals.
Space tourism pioneers Eric Anderson and Peter Diamandis live by the idea that the future is now. "This company is not about thinking and dreaming about asteroid mining," Anderson said. "This company is about creating a space economy beyond the earth."
As far as they're concerned, mining asteroids in space is soon to be fact. The two men, backed by wealthy investors like Google CEO Larry Page and filmmaker James Cameron, say asteroids offer rich sources of metals like platinum - which go for $1,500 an ounce.
"This is smart money investing in one of the largest commercial opportunities ever," Diamandis said, "going to space to gain resources for the benefit humanity."
Within two years, the men want their company Planetary Resources to launch up to five telescopes for close looks at the 9,000 asteroids orbiting near Earth. Asteroids also contain chemicals like hydrogen and oxygen needed as man moves deeper into space.
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Apr 24, 2012 by AlJazeeraEnglish
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