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Company to Settle and Mine Mars
Rutgersen writes "Wired is reporting that a new startup is planning to colonize and mine Mars by 2025. From the article: 'The new company, 4Frontiers, plans to mine Mars for building materials and energy sources, and export the planet's mineral wealth to forthcoming space stations on the moon and elsewhere.'"
Getting said gold out of low earth orbit would not cost as much as putting it into orbit.
It is if you plan your recovery on the premise of a round trip.
Whether you go to Hawaii by jet to bury gold, or LEO to suspend gold in orbit, you still have to make a round trip.
And if you think that weight will be a factor, it most certainly is. The problem with getting gold into the air is the energy to make reaching escape velocity. The problem with retreiving gold from LEO is the energy it takes to slow down from escape velocity.
Both are very expensive prospects when viewed as a geologist. I can go to Indonesia and mine gold for $300USD and make a profit. Can you take gold from LEO and make a profit? Not if you use the shuttle. It costs $1.3BUSD each time it leaves the ground. If you can move freight for a lower cost than what it takes to put a satellite into orbit, then you might be able to make money from mining imaginary LEO gold.
His conclusion is faulty.
You misunderstood the premise.
"Rocky Rococo, at your cervix!"