Asteroids could be a treasure trove for future space missions
Scientists have found that some rare meteorites from carbon-rich asteroids are full of useful stuff—think water, metals, and even building blocks of life like amino acids.
This means future astronauts might be able to get fuel, life support materials, or construction materials straight from space rocks instead of hauling everything up from Earth.
What makes these meteorites special?
Carbonaceous chondrites make up about 5% of meteorite falls but are loaded with organic molecules and several percent water in some types.
They've preserved early solar system chemistry—including over 70 different amino acids—despite crashing through our atmosphere.
Why does it matter for space travel?
If we can figure out how to extract these resources in low gravity, it could make deep-space missions way more practical (and less expensive).
It's a technical challenge, but this study shows asteroids could help power and support future explorers far from home.