瑞士洛桑联邦理工学院（EPFL）研究团队通过计算机模型分析表明，金属丰富的小行星可以为火星殖民提供建筑和维修所需的材料[1]。该研究发现某些特定小行星可用现有航天器技术到达[1]，其中M型小行星含有大量铁、镍等有用金属[1]。由于从地球到火星运输每吨补给的成本高达数千万英镑，且往返通常需要6至9个月[1]，利用小行星资源可显著降低这一成本负担。
研究团队还发现碳质小行星含有碳和水冰，这些物质可在太空中转化为火箭推进剂[1]。通过计算机程序测试数千种供应链组合[1]，研究证实了采用小行星采矿方案的可行性，为未来火星殖民的物资补给系统提供了新的解决思路。
Researchers at Switzerland's EPFL have demonstrated through computer modeling that metal-rich asteroids could supply essential building and repair materials for Mars colonization efforts [1]. The study reveals that certain specific asteroids are reachable using existing spacecraft technology, with carbonaceous asteroids capable of generating rocket fuel in space—a finding that could dramatically reduce the cost of transporting supplies from Earth [1].
The research team tested thousands of supply chain combinations through computational analysis [1]. M-type asteroids contain abundant iron, nickel, and other useful metals, while carbonaceous asteroids carry carbon and water ice that can be converted into rocket propellant in space [1]. Given that transporting materials from Earth to Mars costs tens of millions of pounds per ton and typically requires 6 to 9 months for a round trip, extracting resources from nearby asteroids presents a significant economic advantage for long-term Martian settlement [1].