#1 'Andromeda strain' I'm sure that scientists will the first to study anything returned from the first mined asteroid.
#2 The asteroid they are returning will weigh less than the ISS and be parked further away. Tackling the control/direction of asteroids is something we want to learn anyway.
#3 We are a long way from strong AI. If strong AI is created, asteroid mining would be the smallest footnote in its capabilities.
#4 There are abundant industrial uses for PGMs so there is a high floor price and continuing demand. Markets have established systems for dealing with periodic resource delivery (futures).
#2 The asteroid they are returning will weigh less than the ISS and be parked further away. Tackling the control/direction of asteroids is something we want to learn anyway.
#3 We are a long way from strong AI. If strong AI is created, asteroid mining would be the smallest footnote in its capabilities.
#4 There are abundant industrial uses for PGMs so there is a high floor price and continuing demand. Markets have established systems for dealing with periodic resource delivery (futures).