Modern technologies rely on rare elements such as phosphorus, zinc, indium, and platinum, many of which are increasingly in short supply. While our planet may soon lack easy access to these materials, mining asteroids and small bodies in space may provide new troves of resources. Additionally, exploration of the Moon and Mars might benefit from resources on those bodies so that material does not need to be launched from the Earth. Although asteroids, the Moon and Mars hold potential supplies of resources, many questions remain. What kinds of resources are available from these different celestial bodies? How might these materials be employed in space, on the Moon, on Mars, and back on the Earth? What challenges must be overcome to safely and economically conduct space mining operations? With expertise in aerospace engineering, civil engineering, and Earth and atmospheric sciences, the panelists will explore these topics in detail.

Moderator: Andrew Cox, Ph.D. Candidate, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University.

Panelists:
1. Daniel J. Scheeres, Distinguished Professor, A. Richard Seebass Endowed Chair, University of Colorado Boulder
2. Jay Melosh, Distinguished Professor, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences and of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University
3. Antonio Bobet, Edgar B. and Hedwig M. Olson Professor in Civil Engineering, Purdue University
4. Briony Horgan, Assistant Professor of Planetary Science, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University

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