Interworld Slingshot: Exploring a new way to find resources in space
Before people can mine resources on the moon, asteroids or Mars, they need to answer a few key questions: What is there? How much is there? And where can it be found? A team led by SETI Institute research scientist Pablo Sobron is looking into a new way to answer these questions without having to land, drill or bring samples back to Earth.
A team led by SETI Institute research scientist Pablo Sobron is exploring a novel method to locate resources on celestial bodies without physical contact. This project, called Interworld Slingshot Resource Surveys, aims to utilize Raman spectroscopy—a remote-sensing technique—to identify minerals, water, and other materials from orbit or during swift flybys.
Sobron explains that the primary goal is to determine if Raman can affordably map promising exploration sites before committing to landing or drilling operations. The project is funded by NASA's NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program and seeks to overcome current limitations in space exploration, such as the high costs and risks associated with landings and sample returns.
By employing Raman spectroscopy, the team hopes to identify promising targets for further investigation, potentially reducing mission costs and risks. The Phase I study will investigate technical feasibility, including photon budgets, spacecraft trajectories, sensitive single-photon detectors, precise pointing systems, and small lasers.
The ultimate objective is to create a preliminary map of potential resources, which could aid future missions in resource utilization and reduce the weight and cost of transporting supplies.
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