Around the middle of the 20th century, science dispensed with the fantasy that we could easily colonise the other planets in our solar system. Science fiction writers absorbed the new reality: soon, moon and asteroid settings replaced Mars and Venus. Recurring themes emerged: faceless and unaccountable multinationals rapaciously stripping minerals; the roughnecks 鈥� epitomised by Bruce Willis鈥檚 character in 鈥� who did the dirty work; libertarian oil-rig cowboys who answered to no authority except cold, hard cash; and the claustrophobic isolation of being so far away from the blue planet.
See gallery: 鈥�Roughnecks in space: Moon mining in science fiction鈥澛犅犅犅�
Read more: 鈥�Rich seams of Earth鈥檚 secret moons 鈥澛犅犅犅犅�
Advertisement
Read more: 鈥�Water central to detailed asteroid mining mission plan鈥澛犅犅犅犅�