Modern electronics, from mobile phones to electric cars, rely heavily on a steady supply of precious metals, traditionally mined from the Earth. However, some companies are exploring the possibility of mining these metals in space, which might prove to be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
AstroForge, led by founder and CEO Matt Gialich, aims to eliminate the environmental damage caused by terrestrial mining by extracting minerals from asteroids. These celestial bodies offer more concentrated and easily accessible resources. The company is specifically targeting platinum group metals (PGMs).
AstroForge projects that by the end of the decade, its spacecraft will be capable of delivering approximately 2,200 pounds of refined precious metals per mission. Each mission could cost tens to hundreds of millions of dollars, according to the company.
Numerous asteroids are potentially suitable for mining. While AstroForge has not disclosed specific targets, it aims to lead this “space gold rush.” Gialich asserts that the company will persist in its efforts until it either succeeds or exhausts its resources. 
