A prospecting drone orbits an irregular asteroid at radius r, using Kepler's third law to relate orbit radius and period, while a mining laser depletes surface ore deposits over time.
T² ∝ r³ / μ (orbital period, simplified μ)
extraction rate = power × ore_density
value = extracted_tons × $/tonne(type)
- Composition (Metallic/Carbonaceous/Icy) — sets the asteroid's material color and $/tonne value; metallic (Ni-Fe) asteroids are the most valuable.
- Laser mining power — scales the extraction rate applied to remaining ore deposits.
- Drone orbit radius — larger orbits are safer but slower to reach the surface; changes the orbital period via Kepler's law.
- Drone orbit speed — angular rate multiplier for the prospecting pass.
- Extraction toggle — starts/stops the mining laser.
Real use: Proposed asteroid-mining missions (e.g. targeting metallic M-type asteroids) plan exactly this kind of low, slow prospecting orbit before deploying extraction hardware, valuing ore by estimated composition.