Topic: NASA to launch mission to metal asteroid worth £8,000,000,000,000,000,000

[Simon]

NASA is launching a mission to a gigantic hunk of space metal which is worth so much money that if we even brought a bit back our entire world economy would collapse.

The Psyche mission is set to launch in 2023 – and will target a metal-rich asteroid known as 16 Psyche, which one scientist says could be worth £8,000 quadrillion.

http://metro.co.uk/2017/01/17/nasa-to-launch-mission-to-metal-asteroid-which-is-worth-8000000000000000000-6387242/

How can they actually put a value on this? 

[Clive]

There will be a bit more about this mission in the next astronomy bulletin.  I'm certain it will become the plot of the next Bond movie.   

[daveeb]

Surely the metals it's made of would then become far more abundant and therefore far less valuable ? 

Also how do you cut up then tow part of a 130 mile wide rock back to earth from tens of millions of miles away 

I'll have to monitor the Metro and the Daily Star for more valuable insights 

[Clive]

Surely the metals it's made of would then become far more abundant and therefore far less valuable ? 

But that's the whole point Dave!

Also how do you cut up then tow part of a 130 mile wide rock back to earth from tens of millions of miles away 

That shouldn't be as much of a problem as it sounds Dave.  Gravity is a very weak force and placing a thruster rocket onto the asteroid would steer it towards Earth after which it could be placed in Earth orbit and mined.  I might have a go at it this afternoon.   

[daveeb]

That shouldn't be as much of a problem as it sounds Dave.  Gravity is a very weak force and placing a thruster rocket onto the asteroid would steer it towards Earth after which it could be placed in Earth orbit and mined.  I might have a go at it this afternoon.   

Yes it shouldn't take long to push it 270, 000, 000 miles back to Earth 

[Clive]

I detect some skepticism but consider if you employed ten men to carry out  the job.   

[Simon]

Gosh, the tea bill! 

[Clive]

B&M are selling 1100 Typhoo tea bags for £9.99  Not that I would buy them.   

[Simon]

That sounds expensive!  I don't drink a lot of tea, but generally buy Yorkshire teabags.  I have no idea how much they cost.   

[Clive]

That's less than £1 per hundred bags.  But I have no idea how much ordinary tea costs either as I only buy Twinings.  But only when it's on offer and then I stock up.   

[Simon]

I do the same with Radox bubble bath and Douwe Egberts coffee!   

[Clive]

I am a serial offender.     My Twinings tea  bags normally cost £6.50 per hundred yet I can sometimes get them for £3.  Nescafe Gold £6.50 down to £4 and Bertolli spread £2.20 to £1.  I would rather go without than pay full price.   

[daveeb]

I am a serial offender.     My Twinings tea  bags normally cost £6.50 per hundred yet I can sometimes get them for £3.  Nescafe Gold £6.50 down to £4 and Bertolli spread £2.20 to £1.  I would rather go without than pay full price.   

Me too, I have Twinings Earl Gray when it's on offer, otherwise suffer the supermarket versions. Same with Nescafe. What a couple of cheapskates  wise shoppers

[Simon]

Yes, I also have a pathological resistance to paying full price for certain items.   

[Clive]

It's Twinings Earl Grey that I buy too but no other brand comes even close.  I always keep a large stock just in case.     If I ever did run out I would drink coffee instead.