Space & Astronomy

NASA announces asteroid plans

By T.K. Randall
April 11, 2013 ·  15 comments

Image Credit: NASA The plan would involve identifying an interesting asteroid and then using a spacecraft to bring it in to orbit around the Moon. The ambitious endeavor would then see a manned mission to land on the asteroid and for astronauts to disembark and walk on its surface. There are also plans to explore asteroid mining possibilities and other concepts. The mission is a stepping stone towards the eventual goal of sending humans to Mars.

"This mission represents an unprecedented technological feat that will lead to new scientific discoveries and technological capabilities and help protect our home planet," said NASA administrator Charles Bolden. "This asteroid initiative brings together the best of NASA's science, technology and human exploration efforts to achieve the president's goal of sending humans to an asteroid by 2025."[!gad]The plan would involve identifying an interesting asteroid and then using a spacecraft to bring it in to orbit around the Moon. The ambitious endeavor would then see a manned mission to land on the asteroid and for astronauts to disembark and walk on its surface. There are also plans to explore asteroid mining possibilities and other concepts. The mission is a stepping stone towards the eventual goal of sending humans to Mars.

"This mission represents an unprecedented technological feat that will lead to new scientific discoveries and technological capabilities and help protect our home planet," said NASA administrator Charles Bolden. "This asteroid initiative brings together the best of NASA's science, technology and human exploration efforts to achieve the president's goal of sending humans to an asteroid by 2025."


Source: National Geographic | Comments (15)

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