Mining Magazine August 2016 | Page 15

FINGER ON THE PULSE reasons for breaking down at the end of that lifespan being a lack of fuel . This is where DSI comes in . “ If we could refuel a billion-dollar asset , the value of refueling is going to be some function of that billiondollar cost of replacing the asset at the end of its lifespan . We could really bring down the operational costs of space mining .” She said .
The image DSI is painting represents a petrol station in space , where businesses and satellites can refuel while in orbit rather than attempting to return to Earth which often proves difficult .
The last two years have seen DSI planning , building relationships , preparing to make its mark on the world , before making a bigger one off it .
“ We ’ ve spent the last couple of years getting all our ducks in a row and getting the science and engineering right . At this moment in DSI ’ s history , when we are really coming out for the first time – we ’ ve got a very solid plan in place .”
Part of this ‘ coming out ’ to the world is a partnership with the Luxembourg Government . Together with the Luxembourg Government ’ s spaceresources . lu initiative and the Société Nationale de Crédit et
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