[Honealals]

To realise that businesses and space agencies around the world are already considering asteroid mining, along with many other "futuristic endeavours", is heartening to say the least.
I'm sure they'll look at all facets of it, including technological, economic and safety issues before eventually commencing such an effort.
Time frame...Maybe 50 years...We'll surely be on Mars by then and will have reestablished our presence on the Moon.

I would have thought that mining companies would be better placed to assess the viability of mining projects... but hey, I could be wrong.