The expansion of human activity beyond Earth orbit requires identifying eco nomically and energetically favorable targets for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). This study develops a novel Resource Accessibility Index (RAI) that inte grates orbital mechanics, material composition, and mission energy requirements to rank near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) for ISRU applications. Using publicly available data from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Small-Body Database (JPL SBDB), spectral classification from SMASS II, and delta-v calculations from established as trodynamics principles, we analyzed 2,847 characterized NEAs. Our methodology synthesizes asteroid mass estimates, compositional value derived from spectral type, characteristic energy (C3), and round-trip delta-v requirements into a single dimen sionless metric. Results indicate that C-type asteroids in low-inclination, Earth-like orbits present optimal targets, with specific bodies showing RAI values 3–5 times higher than main-belt targets including (16) Psyche. We apply our framework to Psyche as a comparative case study, demonstrating that despite high metal content, main-belt accessibility penalties severely limit near-term ISRU viability compared to select NEAs. This quantitative framework provides mission planners with a repli cable decision tool for prioritizing ISRU reconnaissance missions and supports the technical foundations established by Tsiolkovsky’s rocket equation and von Braun’s trajectory optimization principles.
Rojan Tiwari (Sun,) studied this question.