  Today there are numerous studies on asteroid mining. They elaborate on
selecting the right objects, prospecting missions, potential asteroid
redirection, and the mining process itself. For economic reasons, most studies
focus on mining candidates in the 100-500m size-range. Also, suggestions
regarding the design and implementation of space stations or even colonies
inside the caverns of mined asteroids exist. Caverns provide the advantages of
confined material in near-zero gravity during mining and later the hull will
shield the inside from radiation. Existing studies focus on creating the
necessary artificial gravity by rotating structures that are built inside the
asteroid. Here, we assume the entire mined asteroid to rotate at a sufficient
rate for artificial gravity and investigate its use for housing a habitat
inside. In this study we present how to estimate the necessary spin rate
assuming a cylindrical space station inside a mined asteroid and discuss the
implications arising from substantial material stress given the required
rotation rate. We estimate the required material strength using two relatively
simple analytical models and apply them to fictitious, yet realistic rocky
near-Earth asteroids.
