SpaceDev Chairman James William Benson announced today the company's intention to launch the world's first private spacecraft and land on a near earth asteroid for the purpose of collecting scientific data and to stake a claim for commercial mining of its valuable mineral resources. Benson plans to accomplish his goal by mid year 2000.
The spacecraft, Near Earth Asteroid Prospector (NEAP), first in a series of
SpaceDev deep space Prospectors, will carry up to five advanced scientific
instruments to an asteroid near the earth in order to analyze its size, and
determine its composition and value. SpaceDev intends to sell the acquired
data as a commercial product as well as stake claim to the asteroid in order to set a precedent for private property rights in space.
"NEAP's success will prove that space is a place, not a government program," said Benson. "Private companies and the public can and should have a direct stake in the opportunities space exploration and development have to offer," he added.
NASA leadership has challenged the private sector to get more involved in
space exploration–a challenge which goes to the core of SpaceDev's business strategy.
"SpaceDev will be able to produce the same high-quality scientific data as
government run programs for about one-fourth the cost," said Benson. "We've
reduced the cost of exploring space by employing basic management strategies, using existing technology, building alliances with experts in space exploration and forming creative cost-sharing arrangements."
SpaceDev is working in conjunction with teams of professionals, academics and students from CalSpace (University of California at San Diego), New Mexico State University and the University of Texas on the final mission plan and spacecraft design which will be completed by month's end. Construction and testing will begin as early as January 1998, after a qualified independent group review of the mission plan. Completion of the spacecraft is planned for mid 1999 and SpaceDev intends to launch shortly thereafter.
"Any asteroid a mile or more in diameter, even a stony asteroid (the most
deficient in valuable minerals), contains natural resources that if found on earth would have a value of more than a trillion dollars," said Benson.
"The return on investment is well worth the effort. NEAP's success is a major step toward achieving the goal of making commercial space exploration
self-sufficient," he concluded.
