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NASA Planning Mission To 40-Meter-Wide Asteroid

Posted by Soulskill on from the how-good-is-your-aim dept.

FudRucker points out a story from The Guardian about NASA's plans to visit 2000SG344, an asteroid 40 meters wide and weighing roughly 71 million kilograms. The manned mission would take three to six months, and it would make use of the Orion spacecraft, which will be replacing to retiring space shuttle fleet. "A report seen by the Guardian notes that by sending astronauts on a three-month journey to the hurtling asteroid, scientists believe they would learn more about the psychological effects of long-term missions and the risks of working in deep space, and it would allow astronauts to test kits to convert subsurface ice into drinking water, breathable oxygen and even hydrogen to top up rocket fuel. All of which would be invaluable before embarking on a two-year expedition to Mars. As well as giving space officials a taste of more complex missions, samples taken from the rock could help scientists understand more about the birth of the solar system and how best to defend against asteroids that veer into Earth's path."

6 of 205 comments (clear)

  1. Planned mission != actual mission by l2718 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    NASA plans a large number of missions but political considerations affect their budget so much that I wouldn't bet this is going to happen, no matter how cool it sounds. Right now, Mars is officially high on the agenda, so stepping-stones toward Mars are hot. In 5 years the next administration might decide to take the unmanned direction and this will go to the back burner. For the moment this should be thought of as contingency planning.

  2. Hmm by aitikin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So that's why they were wondering about the effects of staying in bed for 90 days!

    --
    "Don't meddle in the affairs of a patent dragon, for thou art tasty and good with ketchup." ~ohcrapitssteve
  3. Re:Land, schmand. Pull it into orbit! by MichaelSmith · · Score: 4, Insightful

    a mass drive throwing bits of asteroid, or a high performance solar-electric ion drive, for example. To do that you need a sample of the asteroid, so you know what kind of reaction mass you are dealing with. I think it would be possible to install the engine on the second close pass, assuming a good examination on the first pass.
    --
    http://michaelsmith.id.au
  4. Re:Finally! by Haoie · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Yes, but think of the vast, vast differences in cost.

    No pun intended, it's astronomically different.

    --
    If each mistake being made is a new one, then progress is being made.
  5. Re:Land, schmand. Pull it into orbit! by SanityInAnarchy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Well, if we can slow it down that much, I'd imagine we could use the same tricks to correct its orbit.

    Somehow, I'm not that bothered by it -- how much does the moon weigh? It's often over your house, right?

    --
    Don't thank God, thank a doctor!
  6. Landing... by TrevorB · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Just a technical note. With an asteroid this tiny, you don't land on it, you dock with it. The gravity will be practically non-existent.

    Probably best to go nose first, nose down. Then you'll be able to see it so you don't hit it so hard.