Sciency Words is a special series here on Planet Pailly celebrating the rich and colorful world of science and science-related terminology. Today, we’re looking at the term:
M-TYPE ASTEROIDS
Previously on Sciency Words, we examined carbonaceous (C-type) and siliceous (S-type) asteroids, the most common and second most common asteroid types, respectively. We now come to the third most common type. Unfortunately, this is where nomenclature gets complicated.
Astronomers currently use at least two different systems to identify and categorize asteroids: the Tholen classification system and the SMASS classification system. The two systems overlap in some ways and diverge in others. What Tholen calls an M-type asteroid is, in SMASS, mixed into a broader category called the X-group.
I’d guess that eventually one of these classification systems will “win.” Either that or a new system will replace them both, simplifying matters. In the meantime, an M-type asteroid by any other name would smell as sweet.
Characteristics of M-Type Asteroids
The M in M-type stands for metallic. It’s unlikely that an asteroid of pure (or nearly pure) metal could form by itself. Therefore, M-type asteroids are assumed to be the metal cores of larger asteroids or maybe even dwarf planets that, for one reason or another, broke apart.
Most M-types seem to be composites of iron and nickel with traces of other metals—including precious metals like rare earths and platinum group metals. You can expect to find these valuable metals in much higher quantities than you would on Earth.
If someone were to capture one of these asteroids and safely bring it back to Earth, that someone would become extremely rich.
Or maybe not…
The Problems with Asteroid Mining
Before you hop into your personal spacecraft and fly out to the asteroid belt hunting for M-types, a few notes of caution:
- There’s no way to know the exact composition of an M-type asteroid based solely on observations from Earth. There’s no guarantee that you’ll find substantial amounts of valuable metals.
- M-type asteroids can have wildly different orbits from each other, making some much harder to reach than others. Fuel costs will stack up rapidly, seriously cutting into your profits.
- M-types are basically solid lumps of metal. You’ll need more than a pickaxe or jackhammer to crack them open. The difficulties associated with mining operations will also seriously cut into your profits.
And yet it’s hard to resist the lure of M-type asteroids. Businesses in existence today (not some far-off Sci-Fi tomorrow) are greedily eyeing M-types, trying to figure out how to go get one. That may soon become a driving force in human space exploration. Or the hunt for M-type asteroids could turn into a huge economic bust.
Just something science fiction writers might want to think about.
Book Recommendation
Asteroid Mining 101: Wealth for the New Space Economy by John S. Lewis. There are plenty of books and articles out there about asteroid mining, but this one takes a serious look at both the pros and cons of the idea. If this is a subject that interests you, Asteroid Mining 101 offers a well-balanced view of the future of the asteroid mining industry.
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Today’s post is part of asteroid belt month for the 2015 Mission to the Solar System. Click here for more about this series.
Planet Pailly 
There’s a business venture (that I haven’t heard much about recently) of attempting to “tow” an asteroid into lunar orbit, where it could be mined. I put quotes around “tow” because it’s really about altering an asteroid’s orbit so that it gets captured by the moon’s gravity, which understandably makes people nervous.
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NASA had plans to do that very thing, sort of as a proof of concept test. They’ve since downgraded to a plan where they’d snatch a boulder from a passing asteroid and put the boulder into lunar orbit. http://www.space.com/28963-nasa-asteroid-capture-mission-history.html
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