Asteroid-Mining Plan Would Bake Water Out of Bagged-Up Space Rocks

A new way to harvest asteroid resources is being eyed as a possible game changer for space exploration. Development of the optical-mining idea has been funded by a NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) fellowship and grant, along with a small business contract. The concept — which is also known as the Asteroid Provided In-Situ Supplies plan, or Apis — was detailed here during a special NIAC session held on Sept. 2 during the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics' (AIA