Exploitation of NEOs

Future exploitaion of an asteroid?
Courtesy of SSI

Comets and asteroids are not only hazardous objects. They can also be considered as exploitable objects, that could becom a precious source of raw materials and fuel. In fact, asteroids are rich of raw materials required on Earth (iron, metals, sand...). On the other hand, comets are precious for their contents in water and carbon-based molecules. Cometary ice could then provide liquid hydrogen and oxygen (two primary ingredients for rocket fuel) becoming real "gas stations" for interplanetray spacecrafts.
Presently, such missions are not cost effective, but let's wait and see..

Mining an asteroid... (drawing courtesy of NASA)