Evaluate the prospects and challenges of asteroid mining, including technological, legal, and economic aspects.

Asteroid mining holds the promise of providing resources such as metals and water for space missions and Earth use, potentially reducing the environmental impact of terrestrial mining. However, challenges include the high cost and technical difficulty of space missions, uncertain economic returns, and the need for advanced robotics and remote processing technologies. Legally, the Outer Space Treaty provides a basic framework, but specific regulations and rights for commercial exploitation are still under development, posing a challenge for coordinating international efforts and investments.