Realcent.org

scyther wrote:$10,000 a pound is less than the current cost of gold. And it could get cheaper. I don't think you'd need many (if any) personnel; it would be done by robots. Also, you don't need to the moon or Mars. Large asteroids can be mined directly. And from what I hear, they have a lot of PMs... especially platinum.

The thing about the average cost per pound, is its dependance on a stable currency. That $10K is subject to real inflation, just as the PMs would be. If the price of gold doubles, so do your costs go get a pound into orbit...and if you make a huge investment just before the price of gold collapses, you're bankrupt.

Technology will continue to lower the cost to orbit. Space-X is presently gunning for $1,000 per pound. And someday the Space Elevator may be built. A ribbon structure made of carbon nanotubes can be strong enough to reach from the ground to geosynchronous orbit.