SBIR Phase I: Electromagnetic-ablative PGM Refining for In-situ Asteroid Mining

这个SBIR一期项目将通过小行星采矿来彻底改变贵金属商品市场。该公司的目标是识别和开采含有铂族金属（铂族金属）的近地小行星，铂族金属是汽车、电子、医疗设备、制药、可再生能源系统和消费品等美国各行业的重要组成部分。目前，美国严重依赖非美国的铂族金属和其他关键矿物来源，其中大部分都在自由世界之外。AstroForge的技术将通过提供这些关键金属的国内来源，提高美国的经济竞争力和国家安全。SBIR第一期项目涉及开发一种用于原位小行星采矿的烧蚀精炼工艺，使用激光加热处理复杂的小行星矿石，以分离和提取铂族金属。这种发展空间精炼厂的方法符合任务目标和限制条件，例如快速提取PGMs以减少辐射剂量。该项目还旨在通过创建一个不依赖化学过程及其相关有毒废物产生的太空金属精炼新系统，解决地球上传统精炼方法对环境的影响。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This SBIR Phase I project will work to revolutionize the precious metal commodity market through asteroid mining. The company aims to identify and mine near-Earth asteroids containing Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), which are crucial components in various US industries such as automotive, electronics, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy systems, and consumer goods. Currently, the United States relies heavily on non-US sources of PGMs and other critical minerals, most of which are outside the free world. AstroForge's technology will increase the economic competitiveness and national security of the US by providing a domestic source of these critical metals.The SBIR Phase I project involves developing an ablative refining process for in-situ asteroid mining, using laser heating to process complex asteroid ore for separation and extraction of platinum group metals. This approach to developing a refinery in space is compatible with the mission goals and constraints, such as rapid extraction of PGMs to reduce radiation dose. The project also aims to address the environmental impact of traditional refining methods on Earth by creating a new system for refining metals in space that does not rely on chemical processes and their associated toxic waste production.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.