AstroForge, a Los Angeles-based startup with plans to mine asteroids, received on Monday the United States Federal Communications Commission’s first-ever commercial license to operate in deep space.
The move sets a precedent for future private-sector missions beyond Earth’s orbit as it gives AstroForge both approval for its upcoming mission, Odin, and the green light to establish communication networks with its ground partners
The Odin mission, to be launched in January, is part of the firm’s ambitious plan to harvest precious metals from asteroids, offering an alternative to Earth’s dwindling critical resources.
AstroForge is the most advanced private asteroid miner to date. Two previous companies, Planetary Resources and Deep Space Industries, emerged about a decade ago, but neither company landed on any asteroids. They were eventually acquired and rerouted to other endeavours.
Setbacks
AstroForge has had its own problems. In April 2023, AstroForge launched a small cubesat called Brokkr-1 on a SpaceX Transporter flight. But it was unable to transmit the necessary commands to demonstrate its space-based minerals and metals refining technology. It also ran into issues when preparing its second mission, originally called Brokkr-2 and later renamed Odin. It’s the one set for a January liftoff.
A third attempt is planned for late 2025, when the company is to launch the 200-kg Vestri. The craft is about twice the size of Odin and is designed to return to the targeted metallic asteroid and dock with it by using magnets, as it is expected the asteroid will be rich in iron.
If successful, AstroForge plans to send a fourth mission, which is to focus on extracting and refining asteroids’ metals before returning to Earth.
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