Sbir phase I: electromagnetic-ablative PGM refining for in-situ asteroid mining

Ended Project Grant Awarded

Award ID
2327078
Recipient
Awarding agency
Obligated
$275,000

Award facts

Assistance listing
47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships
Completion date
Place of performance
Huntington Beach, CA 92649, USA

Award details come from USAspending.gov.

Description

As the agency reported it.

Abstract
This sbir phase I project will work to revolutionize the precious metal commodity market through asteroid mining. The company aims to identify and mine near-earth asteroids containing platinum group metals (PGMS), which are crucial components in various US industries such as automotive, electronics, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy systems, and consumer goods. Currently, the united states relies heavily on non-US sources of PGMS and other critical minerals, most of which are outside the free world. Astroforge's technology will increase the economic competitiveness and national security of the US by providing a domestic source of these critical metals. The sbir phase I project involves developing an ablative refining process for in-situ asteroid mining, using laser heating to process complex asteroid ORE for separation and extraction of platinum group metals. This approach to developing a refinery in space is compatible with the mission goals and constraints, such as rapid extraction of PGMS to reduce radiation dose. The project also aims to address the environmental impact of traditional refining methods on earth by creating a new system for refining metals in space that does not rely on chemical processes and their associated toxic waste production. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.

Quick answers

Who received award 2327078?

2327078 was awarded to Astroforge, Inc. by National Science Foundation on February 29, 2024.

How much is award 2327078 worth?

$275,000 has been obligated on 2327078.

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