NASA has finally weighed in on the ambitious plans revealed Tuesday by billionaire-backed private company, Planetary Resources, to mine near-earth asteroids using a fleet of robotic drill-bearing robots. NASA’s associate administrator for communications David Weaver provided TPM with the following statement:
“This project aligns well with our national space policies and goals. President Obama has set the United States on an ambitious path for deep space exploration, seeking to send humans to an asteroid for the first time and ultimately to Mars. As NASA leads this effort, we will certainly look to take advantage of private-sector resources and data. This commercial interest affirms our path forward — a path that relies on private-sector partnerships and innovation to reduce the overall costs to the taxpayer, create jobs and advance our space exploration program.”
