NASA's new plan to capture a tiny
asteroid in deep space and lodge it in the Earth - moon system so that astronauts can get their hands on it is certainly audacious.
Conquer
asteroids in deep space and use their resources to grow and nurture semi-organic plants and creatures to do your bidding.
Not exact matches
Slated for a first crewed mission
in 2021, it is expected to serve as NASA's
deep -
space exploratory spacecraft for the next decade, potentially carrying astronauts to the moon, nearby
asteroids and even Mars or one of its moons
in the 2030s.
At the moment, a handful of companies such as Planetary Resources,
Deep Space Industries and Kepler Energy and
Space Engineering have announced various strategies to reach
asteroids in the inner solar system.
The robotic spacecraft would cruise
in deep space towards a near - Earth
asteroid, using a technology called advanced Solar Electric Propulsion.
Deep Space Industries
in Houston: The «Industry Funded Participation
in the
Asteroid Initiative» study will analyze the economic fundamentals of a commercially oriented
Asteroid Initiative and develop figures of merit that are relevant to commercial needs.
In addition, you would have continued to have the ability to reach out into deep space, a capability that included being able to divert asteroids in case one looked like it might be on a collision course with the Eart
In addition, you would have continued to have the ability to reach out into
deep space, a capability that included being able to divert
asteroids in case one looked like it might be on a collision course with the Eart
in case one looked like it might be on a collision course with the Earth.
And while the
Deep Space 1 experimental probe did make its flyby of
asteroid Braille
in July, its camera was pointing the wrong way.
The mile - wide
asteroid Braille, visited by the
Deep Space 1 spacecraft
in 1999, appears to be a big chip that broke off Vesta.
Astronaut sampling and potential commercial activities could indicate the value of C - type
asteroids for commercial mining purposes, which
in turn could have significant impacts on how
deep space missions are designed
in the future.
«An
asteroid in the Earth - moon system would provide a safer destination to begin developing our capability for human
deep space exploration,» says Chris Lewicki of Planetary Resources, a
space - mining firm
in Seattle.
After the crew returns to Earth, the
deep -
space vehicle remains
in high Earth orbit, awaiting refueling and refurbishment for its first
asteroid mission.
The system was successfully tested on NASA's
Deep Space 1 probe, which performed an
asteroid flyby
in 1999.
«We remain committed to the next human missions to
deep space, but we will not pursue the
Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) with this budget,» Lightfoot said
in a statement.
En route, it passed by two
asteroids, 2867 Steins (
in 2008) and 21 Lutetia (
in 2010), before entering
deep -
space hibernation mode
in June 2011.
The lunar - orbiting outpost, called the
Deep Space Gateway, has replaced the Obama administration's
Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) as an interim step
in NASAs long - term goal to send astronauts to Mars.
The long stay for Kelly and Kornienko should provide valuable information on the effects of long - term living
in a microgravity environment — considered important for planning future
deep -
space missions to
asteroids and Mars.
NASA Wednesday announced more details
in its plan for its
Asteroid Redirect Mission, which
in the mid-2020s will test a number of new capabilities needed for future human expeditions to
deep space, including to Mars.
When you're not planet side you'll be
in the
deep dark reaches of
space, farming
asteroids and taking on
space bullies earning additional dosh and heading over to the main spaceship for more ship upgrades such as radars, higher damage capacity and fully customizable weapons.