Watch Asteroid Rush

Asteroid Rush is a fascinating documentary series that takes us on a journey through the history and future of space exploration. This six-episode series explores the realities of asteroid mining, its challenges, and its potential rewards. The show is available on CuriosityStream, an online streaming service dedicated to delivering quality educational content about science, technology, and the human experience.

The series begins with a brief history of asteroids, tracing their origins and the impact they have had on the Earth throughout history. It explains how asteroids are formed and provides a basic understanding of their composition. This information lays the foundation for the rest of the series, which goes into greater detail about how asteroids could be mined and how such resources could be used to benefit humanity.

From there, the documentary takes us on a detailed journey that demonstrates how space exploration has advanced over the years. We get to learn about the tools and techniques that modern-day explorers use to investigate the vast universe. This is followed by a discussion about the challenges that come with space exploration, such as radiation exposure and micrometeoroids that could damage spacecraft.

The series then delves into the fascinating concepts of asteroid mining, detailing the potential rewards and risks of this new industry. It covers in detail what is currently known about the asteroids within our solar system and how mining them could provide humankind with valuable minerals, water, and even the possibility of creating a sustainable fuel source.

The show features interviews with experts in the field, including scientists, researchers, and engineers from leading space organizations like NASA and ESA. These experts help to shed light on the technical feasibility of asteroid mining, how it might be accomplished, and what obstacles still need to be overcome.

Throughout the series, we get to see behind-the-scenes footage of various missions to space, including footage of the Dawn mission, which provided researchers with an up-close and personal look at the elusive Ceres asteroid. The documentary also explores the role of private companies like Planetary Resources and Deep Space Industries as they seek to take advantage of this new industry.

One of the most exciting elements of the series is the exploration of the potential applications for asteroid resources. The show covers in detail how minerals like gold, platinum, and other rare earth elements could be used to revolutionize our technology and solve some of the biggest problems facing humanity today. We learn about the possibility of using water to create rocket propellant, which could allow spacecraft to stay in space for longer periods of time, making exploration and discovery more accessible.

The series concludes with an exploration of the potential risks of asteroid mining, including the concerns about debris and the potential impact on our environment. It also discusses the possibility of using harvested resources to mitigate natural disasters and the impact of climate change. The series ends with a thought-provoking message about the importance of responsible space exploration and the need to balance the potential rewards with the risks involved.

Overall, Asteroid Rush is an incredibly captivating and informative documentary series that is packed with fascinating information and insights into the world of space exploration. Whether you're a space enthusiast or someone looking to learn more about one of the most exciting frontiers of the 21st century, this series is certain to provide you with a gripping and thought-provoking adventure.

Asteroid Rush is a series that ran for 1 seasons (2 episodes) between June 16, 2022 and on CuriosityStream