The use of advanced remote sensing technologies—like muon tomography, quantum gravimetry, or deep-penetrating radar—to map and identify valuable mineral, aqueous, or energy resources buried kilometers beneath a planet's or moon's surface. It's the high-tech equivalent of X-ray vision for entire landscapes, allowing prospectors to "see" ore deposits, groundwater aquifers, or geothermal pockets without digging a single hole. This is the critical first step for any large-scale off-world mining or colony site selection.
Example: Before establishing a Mars base, a fleet of orbiters and rovers would perform Deep Resource Scanning to pinpoint the exact location of subsurface water-ice deposits, saving a colony from drilling a dozen dry holes. On an asteroid, such scanning could map the internal veins of platinum-group metals before sending in mining drones.
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 3, 2026
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