Back to results
US 9,409,658 B1Granted
Space-based structures and methods of delivering space-sourced materials
AssigneePlanetary Resources Development Corp.
InventorsPeter H. Diamandis, Eric Anderson, Chris Lewicki, Chris Voorhees
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is provided for processing extraterrestrial metal into a metal foam or gossamer structure in space, and delivering the metal foam or gossamer structure intact to the Earth's surface. Additionally, a structure is provided that is formed in space and consists essentially of an extraterrestrial metal.
Claims11
A method comprising:
- extracting extraterrestrial metal with a mining spacecraft,
- processing the extraterrestrial metal into a metal foam using metal foaming equipment onboard the mining spacecraft while the mining spacecraft is in space or processing the extraterrestrial metal into a gossamer structure using additive manufacturing equipment onboard the mining spacecraft while the mining spacecraft is in space, and
- delivering the metal foam or gossamer structure intact to the Earth's surface.
A method comprising:
- extracting extraterrestrial metal using a mining spacecraft comprising one or more robotic units,
- processing the extraterrestrial metal into a metal foam while in space using metal foaming equipment onboard at least one of the one or more robotic units of the mining spacecraft, or processing the extraterrestrial metal into a gossamer structure while in space using additive manufacturing equipment onboard at least one of the one or more robotic units of the mining spacecraft, and
- delivering the metal foam or gossamer structure intact to the Earth's surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.