The Koyal Group InfoMag News: NASA prepares to capture asteroid, drag it into Earth's orbit - 1 views
started by Margaret Koyal on 30 Jun 14
started by Margaret Koyal on 30 Jun 14
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Through the Asteroid Redirect Mission, NASA will identify, capture and redirect an asteroid to a stable orbit around the moon, which astronauts will explore in the 2020s, returning with samples. The mission is an important early step as we learn to be more independent of Earth for humans to explore Mars. It will be an unprecedented technological feat that will lead to new scientific discoveries and technological capabilities, while helping us learn to protect our home planet. The overall objectives of the Asteroid Redirect Mission are:
* Conduct a human exploration mission to an asteroid in the mid-2020s, providing systems and operational experience required for human exploration of Mars.
* Demonstrate an advanced solar electric propulsion system, enabling future deep-space human and robotic exploration with applicability to the nation's public and private sector space needs.
* Enhance detection, tracking and characterization of Near Earth Asteroids, enabling an overall strategy to defend our home planet.
* Demonstrate basic planetary defense techniques that will inform impact threat mitigation strategies to defend our home planet.
* Pursue a target of opportunity that benefits scientific and partnership interests, expanding our knowledge of small celestial bodies and enabling the mining of asteroid resources for commercial and exploration needs.