Do you ever think about the connection between gold and outer space? Not only did the cosmos gift us with precious metals like gold, but gold also plays a crucial role in helping humans explore the universe. While we know that the Earth’s gold originally came from space, scientists are still uncovering the full story of how it got here.
Gold Stars
Astronomers widely agree that the universe’s heavier elements – including gold – are forged in powerful cosmic events like supernovae and neutron star collisions. Following the observation of a neutron star collision in 2017, researchers confirmed that these encounters can produce gold, platinum and other heavy elements. Over time, events like this enriched the gas and dust that formed our solar system, and helped create the gold that became part of Earth’s composition.
However, neutron star mergers happen relatively late in the universe’s timeline, leaving some of the earliest heavy element formation unexplained. Another possibility is magnetars – highly-magnetized neutron stars. Recent studies suggest that flares from magnetars can hurl crustal material, rich in heavy elements like gold, into space at incredible speeds. Additionally, after the Earth was formed, meteorites may have added more gold to our planet’s crust, where it’s now found in quartz veins and placer deposits.
To the Earth and Back
It’s pretty cool to realize that the gold on your wedding band or necklace likely came from a star explosion billions of years ago. What’s more, gold is often used in different components of the spacecraft that help us observe outer space. In a way, some gold has made a full-circle journey: born in a cosmic blast, embedded into Earth, extracted, and now riding aboard a satellite or telescope that helps us study the stars.
NASA and other space flight organizations like the European Space Agency (ESA) use gold in many ways. The metal has several key traits that make it ideal for components of satellites, telescopes, spacesuits and more: it’s highly reflective, corrosion-resistant, and a great electrical conductor.
Telescopes
NASA used gold to coat the large hexagonal mirrors of the famous James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the most advanced telescope ever built. They did so because gold is great at reflecting infrared light, which is the wavelength range that JWST was designed to observe. Gold reflects up to 98% of infrared radiation, far outperforming most other metals. Reflecting IR light is crucial for detecting faint heat signals from distant galaxies.
The golden mirrors on the JWST are a striking feature, but they actually contain much less gold than you’d think. The mirrors are primarily made of a lightweight metal called beryllium. The gold is applied as an extremely thin layer using a process called vacuum vapor deposition. A small amount of gold is vaporized and injected into a vacuum chamber where gold atoms are deposited onto the smooth surfaces of the mirrors. Coating the entire JWST mirror structure (which is huge, by the way) required less than 2 ounces of gold!
Other notable telescopes that employ gold-coated parts include the Spitzer Space Telescope, the Infrared Astronomical Satellite and the Herschel Space Observatory.
Satellite Coatings
Gold is used in satellites to reflect heat and radiation. You may have seen photos of the JASON-3 satellite, for example, that appears to be wrapped in gold foil. But that shiny material doesn’t really contain any gold – it’s called multi-layer insulation (MLI). MLI is made primarily of plastic and aluminum, and it shields spacecraft from extreme temperatures.
Click (or touch) and drag to interact with this 3D model of the JASON-3 spacecraft. (courtesy of NASA)
While satellites aren’t literally wrapped in gold, gold is still an essential material. It’s used to coat lenses, mirrors, and other optical components to reflect infrared radiation, helping regulate temperature and protect sensitive instruments. Gold is also found in the circuit boards, connectors, and electrical contacts inside satellites – its corrosion resistance and high conductivity ensure reliable signal transmission.
Spacesuits
NASA also uses gold in the construction of spacesuit visors. A very thin layer of gold is applied to the outside of a polycarbonate plastic visor to protect astronauts from the sun’s harmful radiation in space.
Gold is ideal because it reflects nearly all infrared light, which can damage the eyes – even though we can’t see or feel it. By itself, gold transmits about 60% of visible and ultraviolet (UV) light, so it doesn’t provide full protection.
That’s where polycarbonate plastic comes in. It blocks most UV light, which can also damage the eyes. Together, the gold coating and polycarbonate visor block harmful infrared and UV rays while still allowing enough visible light through for astronauts to see!
Electronics
Longevity is a crucial factor in electrical components, especially in space where you can’t just run to the store for replacements if something fails. Many electronics, including smartphones, computers and medical devices, use gold because it’s an excellent conductor and tarnish-resistant. Spacecrafts are no exception. Electronics and microelectronics in satellites, telescopes and rockets often incorporate gold in wiring, connectors and circuit boards to ensure reliability.
Gold on Earth
From cosmic origins to space exploration, gold is truly a stellar metal. You may have heard about asteroid mining – extracting minerals like gold from asteroids orbiting the sun. It may sound wild, but some companies are already pursuing the idea. But for now, we’re limited to the Earth’s finite gold supply. This rare precious metal plays a significant role in many industries, with applications in dentistry, medicine, electronics, jewelry and more.
Recycling Precious Metals
Recycled gold makes up a significant portion of our limited global supply. The World Gold Council reported that 1,370.0 tons of gold were recycled in 2024. Precious metal recycling is and will continue to be a crucial part of establishing more sustainable supply chains and decreasing the demand for environmentally-harmful mining operations. Recycled gold comes from scrap material like old jewelry, dental extractions and more.
At Garfield Refining, we purchase gold scrap and refine it. The metal then re-enters the market and is used to make new products. We’re known for providing the industry’s best service and highest payouts – so if you have gold that you’d like to refine, you’ve come to the right place!
Garfield Refining is North America’s trusted partner is precious metals recycling. If you’re looking to sell gold, silver, platinum and/or palladium, get started by downloading a free shipping label!