The Stark Truth About Asteroid Mining
Part-1: How Big Must the Ship Be…
This is Part-1 of a 10-Part Series every serious investor, agency, or startup in asteroid mining must read. Why? Because the asteroid mining sector is exploding with hype — and not enough hard truth.
Companies like AstroForge, TransAstra, iSpace, Asteroid Mining Corporation, and Karman+ are dominating headlines and absorbing billions in investment — with Liechtenstein, of all nations, now leading global funding.
But here’s the reality:
Most haven’t scratched the surface of what asteroid mining actually entails.
We’ve seen the animated concept videos. We’ve listened to the polished keynote speeches. But the brutal truth is this — nearly every company in this space is severely underestimating the scale, risks, and logistics.
This series is drawn from decades of hands-on experience in deep-level mining, oil & gas, and advanced systems design. We’re not here to impress — we’re here to inform.
Let’s begin with the most overlooked question:
How big must the ship be?
To mine, refine, and return asteroid ore, your vessel won’t look anything like SpaceX’s Starship or NASA’s Orion. You’ll need a true interplanetary industrial ship, housing a 15-member crew minimum with full facilities for life support, mining operations, processing, manufacturing, shuttle hangars, cargo, and propulsion.
The layout requires 20 decks, stacked horizontally across the ship’s width — not vertically — for artificial gravity design, safety, and efficiency:
UPPER DECKS (8 decks, 3.5m each)
– Cockpit & Command
– Bio-Medical Bay & Lab
– Crew Quarters, Galley, Recreation
– Spacesuit Bays & Bathrooms
MIDDLE DECKS (5 decks, 5.0m each)
– Ore Processing & Micro-Manufacturing
– Engineering Control Room
– Environmental & Life Support
– General Storage & Spacesuit Lockers
– Cargo & External Airlock
LOWER DECKS (3 decks combined = 15m)
– Shuttle Hangar Bay
– Additional Storage
BOTTOM DECKS (4 decks combined = 20m)
– Fuel Storage
– Multi-Chambered Hybrid Propulsion Drives
Dimensions of a REAL Asteroid Mining Ship:
– Length: 88 meters (290.5 feet)
– Width: 25 meters (82.3 feet)
– Height: 27 meters (88.6 feet)
(Note: Excludes the 5.5m Main Exhaust Nozzle)
So next time someone tells you they’re building an “asteroid mining spacecraft” the size of a cargo van or repurposed satellite… send them this post.
We’ve only just begun.
Follow us for Part-2: How to Get There.