This rather unimpressive rock is worth $5.4 trillion dollars according to scientists and you have rarely been closer than this weekend. The problem is that 2011 UW-158 is an asteroid and just past by like a tease to all those wealth maximizing Earthlings.
It is believed that Asteroid 2011 UW-158 has a 100 million ton core of platinum that has long been the subject of potential space mining operations. Of course, dumping millions of tons of platinum on the market could make further mining less profitable as the price drops from new cosmic supply for the earthly demand.
The haul was just 1.5 million miles (2.4 million km) and you missed it . . . so get ready and go to work.
The difference between an asteroid and a hemmeroid is that fat lives matter, there is no free lunch and all is fair in love and war unless you are a fat lesbian. How do you spull hemmoroid?
bgfatmike: Excellent idea coming on the heels of Darren’s bitcoin contribution this weekend, and backing it with platinum in space will maintain value better than the US Dollar using aircraft carriers for its security.
The question is how long before Hollywood comes out with a movie on this with Clint Eastwood, Bruce Willis, and the Arnold as free flying mining types………..
Why mine it. Just set up an exchange that will allow purchase and trading of quantities that are scientifically known to be there. Leaving it there has the advantage of security. It is unlikely that anyone or any group will be able to steal it with technology available any time soon.
Of course, it would not be very good for jewelry – but as a store of value, yes.