[cryptoz]

Why would it ever matter if Earth has a shortage of them, or if Earth needs them at all? Since we're already talking about large-scale spaceship operations, consider the diamonds may be useful in space. Perhaps extraordinarily useful.

Earth has no shortage of water, either (if you include salt water). But in space, water is one of the most valuable things imaginable. It's rocket fuel, humans need to drink it, etc. Perhaps diamond would be similar.

[Radim]

And perhaps not.

OP says mining diamonds from outer space is nonsense, with good arguments, and you say ... what exactly? That space-mined diamonds are somehow more valuable than earth-produced ones?

[cryptoz]

> and you say ... what exactly?

I say, show respect for those with opinions. Maybe diamonds in space are 100% useless, I would be totally willing to accept that fact. I'm only upset at the rudeness and name calling.

> That space-mined diamonds are somehow more valuable than earth-produced ones?

If, in 20 years, we find a use for diamonds in space, then yes, they would be much more valuable than Earth ones since you don't have to transport them to space. Additionally, it seems quite likely to me that a strong compound like diamond would indeed have its use in space.

[Radim]

Fair enough, OP's "idiots" was unnecessarily harsh.

There is indeed some chance that mining diamonds from far-off planets would make economical sense. But there is some chance for almost anything happening. It's a trivial statement that doesn't add anything IMO.

[stephengillie]

They're on a planet, so they'd still have to be transported into space.

Just because they're not on this planet...

[cryptoz]

> They're on a planet

or a small asteroid, which has a negligible gravity well.