Google space cadets’ foolish asteroid mining

As Earth's precious resources run low, some companies are looking skyward to replenish our planet's supply of rare metals and other key elements.   Deep Space Industries plans to launch a fleet of small spacecraft in 2015 to scope out potential asteroid mining targets. These probes, called FireFlies, would return to Earth with samples.  

By Stocks & Shares:Google (GOOG) co-founder Larry Page, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, filmmaker James Cameron, and other notable investors are backing a NEA (near earth asteroid) mining venture called Planetary Resources.

Last year, in an effort to tackle the 'myths' surrounding the belief that the world would end on December 21st, NASA set up a website to debunk theories about 'Mayan Prophecies', and even released a video explaining why Armageddon was not imminent.

A mission that aims to slam a spacecraft into a near-Earth asteroid now officially has a target — a space rock called Didymos.

NASA's bold plan to drag an asteroid into orbit around the moon may sound like science fiction, but it's achievable with current technology, experts say.

NASA will likely get $100 million next year to jump-start an audacious program to drag an asteroid into orbit around the moon for research and exploration purposes, U.S.

PASADENA, Calif. — Surrounded by engineers, NASA chief Charles Bolden inspected a prototype spacecraft engine that could power an audacious mission to lasso an asteroid and tow it closer to Earth for astronauts to explore. Bolden checked on the progress Thursday a month after the Obama administration unveiled its 2014 budget that proposes $105-million to jumpstart the mission, which may eventually cost more than $2.6-billion.

The European Space Agency doesn’t want us to all die in a fiery doomsday when an asteroid hits the Earth, so the inter-governmental organization wants your help developing a plan of action to stop the deadly armageddon. “ESA is appealing for research ideas to help guide the development of a US–European asteroid deflection mission now under study,” the agency said in a statement. The ESA’s best bet for getting rid of rogue asteroids? A “hypervelocity impact.”