Seattle company planning out-of-this-world mining operation

This March 3, 2000 image provided by NASA shows the near-Earth asteroid Eros from the NEAR spacecraft at a distance of 127 miles (204 kilometers). A group of high-tech tycoons wants to mine nearby asteroids, hoping to turn science fiction into real profits. The mega-million dollar plan is to use commercially built robotic ships to squeeze rocket fuel and valuable minerals like platinum and gold out of the lifeless rocks that routinely whiz by Earth. One of the company founders predicts they could have their version of a space-based gas station up and running by 2020. (AP Photo/NASA)