Asteroid mining startup AstroForge said today it has received a spectrum license from the Federal Communications Commission that is needed to operate a commercial mission in deep space.
The approval means the company will be able to maintain communications with its upcoming Odin spacecraft mission.
AstroForge will eventually seek to mine asteroids for valuable metals and other resources, and then bring them back to Earth.
AstroForge said it is the first company to receive such a license from the federal government.
“With the FCC’s authorization, we are now full steam ahead in final preparations for our second mission,” AstroForge said in a statement today.