Astroforge, a US-based private company, is launching the ‘Odin’ space probe to mine asteroid minerals, targeting the asteroid '2022 OB5' for platinum extraction.
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| Astroforge’s ‘Odin’ space probe, launching from Florida, aims to mine asteroid 2022 OB5, believed to contain vast quantities of platinum. Image: ChicHue |
California, USA — February 25, 2025:
Astroforge, a private space company based in California, is preparing to launch its space probe, ‘Odin,’ on a mission to mine minerals from the near-Earth asteroid 2022 OB5. This ambitious project, aimed at extracting valuable resources like platinum, marks a significant step toward commercial asteroid mining.
The ‘Odin’ probe will be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on February 26 from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. After 45 minutes, Odin will separate from the rocket and begin its solo mission. Using a black-and-white camera, the probe will capture detailed images of the asteroid, located just 0.6 miles away, to measure its metallic objects. This data will help scientists assess the asteroid’s mineral content, with experts estimating it may contain 117,000 tonnes of platinum — enough to supply global demand for the next 680 years.
Astroforge’s founder, Matt Gialich, has emphasized that if the mission succeeds, it could lead to the most significant commercial venture in history. The $6.5 million mission aims to establish a framework for future asteroid mining ventures, with plans for a third mission by 2025 or early 2026. However, the company’s first mission, Broker-1, failed to activate its CubeSat refinery technology, highlighting the challenges of such ambitious undertakings.
Mitch Hunter-Scullion, founder of the UK-based Asteroid Mining Core, pointed out that even a 1-kilometer-wide asteroid could hold platinum worth several times the global supply, showcasing the immense potential of asteroid mining.