The solar system is composed of many rocks floating in space.

The large ones are called planets, and the smaller ones are called asteroids.

Research has shown that asteroids contain ⓐ valuable resources like gold and rare earth elements.

For example, one asteroid, 16 Psyche, is reported to consist mainly of gold and other precious metals, whose value is ⓑ equal to billions of dollars per person on Earth.

From a space explorers’ perspective, however, the most valuable resources from asteroids are neither valuable precious metals nor rare mineral deposits.

That valuable resource could actually be water, and it seems to have been ⓒ appreciated because it doesn’t seem as exciting as gold.

Water is expensive to transport into space due to its weight and volume.

Having a space station with sufficient water supplies in orbit around Earth would make space explorations much ⓓ easier.