Atmospheric mining

Atmospheric mining is the process of extracting valuable materials or other non-renewable resources from the atmosphere. Due to the abundance of hydrogen and helium in the outer planets of the Solar System, atmospheric mining may be easier than mining terrestrial surfaces.

History of atmospheric mining

Atmospheric mining of outer planets has not yet begun.

Types of atmospheric mining

Hydrogen mining

Hydrogen may fuel chemical and nuclear propulsion.

Helium mining

Helium-3 may fuel nuclear propulsion.

Methane mining

Methane may fuel chemical propulsion.

Exploration for atmospheric mining

Hydrogen and helium are abundant in outer planets.

Methods of atmospheric mining

Aerostats

An aerostat would be a buoyant station in the atmosphere that gathers and stores gases. A vehicle would transfer the gases from the aerostat to an orbital station above the planet.

Scoopers

A scooper would be a vehicle that gathers and transfers gases from the atmosphere to an orbital station.

Cruisers

A cruiser would be a vehicle in the atmosphere that gathers and stores gases. A smaller vehicle would transfer the gases from the cruiser to an orbital station.