Air date: 2021-02-17

Witness how asteroids, those rocky, mysterious celestial bodies, could become a new frontier for humanity in the near future. We are at the forefront of the modern day gold rush and Asteroids hold the key for private companies to launch into deep space. This mini-series looks at the science and engineering behind the companies leading that race. Why study asteroids? Well, they are remnants of our Solar System’s remote past - they help us understand the formation of planets as well as the origin of life. Plus, impact with the Earth could have catastrophic consequences. But thirdly and most crucially they could provide us with resources like metals or water that could be used for propellant to help humans reach deep space - and they could even be used as pit-stops.