Planetary Resources, Inc. has announced that Bechtel has joined their core group of investors and will be a collaborative partner in helping Planetary Resources achieve its long-term mission, which is to mine near-Earth asteroids for raw materials, ranging from elements used in rocket fuel to precious metals, through the development of innovative and cost-effective robotic exploration technologies.

Currently, Planetary Resources has multiple contracts to develop miniaturized and responsive technologies with far-reaching applications to space assessment, accessibility and resource recovery.

"As we pursue our vision to expand the resource base beyond Earth; we're extremely excited to announce this partnership with Bechtel. They are a world leader in the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) industry," said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman, Planetary Resources, Inc.

"Bechtel has a history of consistently tackling the most challenging projects, beginning with the construction of the Hoover Dam more than 75 years ago."

"Planetary Resources' mission is ambitious, but they've assembled a world-class team to succeed," said Riley Bechtel, Bechtel Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

"Our companies share a common vision to continually innovate and push boundaries, all aimed at contributing to a better quality of life. We look forward to joining the Planetary Resources' team."