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Originally Posted by Legbreaker
Honestly, I can't see anything being brought back in commercial quantities from space - the costs involved are just too great.
The real profits will be along the lines of advances in technology, not raw materials.
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Have faith in capitalism. It's all a matter of cost-benefit ratios. Investors will find $25 billion to invest if they are convinced they can make $100 billion. If you’re interested, I can recommend some reading that lays out the numbers. Once tokamak fusion can be made to be profitable, the energy values of light helium will blow the lid off conventional thinking.
I agree, though, that the advances in technology will be quite profitable. Look at what the world got out of Apollo.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Legbreaker
There is a precedent - Antarctica.
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That’s a good example of preventing a mad race for resources. I’m glad you re-introduced it to the dialogue. Our challenge is to move beyond creating a scientific preserve and towards development of the resources.