• Company report says a 'psychological barrier' is stopping us from space mining
• But it notes an asteroid-grabbing spacecraft could be built for $2.6bn (£2.1bn)
• Precious metals and minerals found on asteroids could be worth quadrillions

Bankers from Goldman Sachs hope to build an 'asteroid-grabbing spacecraft' to make billions from mining space metals.

The celestial objects are thought to be loaded with tonnes of precious metals and minerals, including pricey platinum, worth quadrillions on Earth.

A 98-page report from the banking investment company claims that mining asteroids for precious metals in the near future is a 'realistic' goal. Bankers from Goldman Sachs hope to build an 'asteroid-grabbing spacecraft' to make billions from mining space metals.

TOP FIVE ASTEROID MINING PROSPECTS

• 162385 (2000 BM19) - Profit: $6.94trillion
• 4034 Vishnu - Profit: $5.28trillion
• 65679 (1989 UQ) - Profit: $1.74trillion
• 5143 Heracles (1991 VL) - Profit: $2.33trillion
• 7753 (1988 XB) - Profit: $1.31trillion

Source: Asterank

'While the psychological barrier to mining asteroids is high, the actual financial and technological barriers are far lower,' the report reads, according to Business Insider.

'Prospecting probes can likely be built for tens of millions of dollars each and Caltech has suggested an asteroid-grabbing spacecraft could cost $2.6bn.'

Nasa has also expressed an interest in finding mineral-rich asteroids.

In January, it announced plans to find 16 Psyche, one of the most mysterious objects in our solar system.

16 Psyche is located in the large asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and may have started as a planet, before it was partially destroyed during the formation of the solar system.

16 Psyche is one of the most mysterious objects in our solar system and is thought to hold metals worth quadrillions (artist's impression)

16 PSYCHE  

16 Psyche is located in the large asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and may have started as a planet, before it was partially destroyed during the formation of the solar system.

Now, it is a 130 mile (200km) wide chunk of metal, made up of iron, nickel and a number of other rare metals, including gold, platinum and copper.

In comparison, all the money on Earth is thought to be worth $60 to $75 trillion.

Now, it is a 130 mile (200km) wide chunk of metal, made up of iron, nickel and a number of other rare metals, including gold, platinum and copper.

Lindy Elkins-Tanton the lead scientist on the Nasa mission and the director of Arizona State University's School of Earth and Space Exploration, said: '16 Psyche is the only known object of its kind in the solar system, and this is the only way humans will ever visit a core.

'We learn about inner space by visiting outer space.'

If the asteroid could be transported back to Earth, the iron alone would be worth $10,000 quadrillion (£8,072 quadrillion).

In comparison, all the money on Earth is thought to be worth $60 to $75 trillion. 

Experts have warned that its value would be large enough to destroy commodity prices and cause the world's economy to collapse.

If the asteroid could be transported back to Earth, the iron alone would be worth $10,000 quadrillion (£8,072 quadrillion).

But that hasn't stopped a number of other companies besides Goldman Sachs from expressing their interest in mining asteroids.

Start-up firm Deep Space Industries intends to launch a fleet of unmanned ships to intercept small asteroids as they speed past our own planet, possibly finding metals such as platinum.

'Deep Space Industries is an asteroid mining company, developing the technologies to find, harvest, and supply the asteroid resources that will transform the space economy,' the firms website reads.