Nasa Plans To Lasso Asteroid And Land On It

A US senator has said Nasa plans to use a robotic spaceship to lasso an asteroid and park it near the Moon for astronauts to explore.

Bill Nelson, chairman of the Senate Science and Space Subcommittee, said the 550-ton space rock could be snatched in 2019.

Local television channel News 13 said that once it had been dragged into a stable orbit, astronauts on board the Orion capsule would mine the rock to learn more about its composition.

It is hoped that four astronauts would nuzzle up next to the rock for spacewalking exploration by 2021, according to a government document.

Donald Yeomans, who leads Nasa's Near Earth Object programme, explained that the asteroid would be captured with the space equivalent of "a baggie with a drawstring".

"You bag it. You attach the solar propulsion module to de-spin it and bring it back to where you want it."

The asteroid would provide scientists with a "unique, meaningful and affordable" destination for the next decade, Senator Nelson was quoted as saying by Florida Today.

Mr Nelson, who represents Florida, told the newspaper that President Barack Obama will put aside $100m (£65m) in planning money for the mission, when the White House unveils its 2014 budget next week.

He said the project would help Nasa defend Earth from a potentially devastating asteroid strike in the future.

It could also help scientists test technologies that could one day be used in a manned mission to Mars.

Last year, the Keck Institute for Space Studies proposed a similar mission for Nasa with a price tag of $2.6 billion. However, the space agency has not yet revealed an estimated cost.

In a separate project, announced in January, US company Deep Space Industries said it planned to send a fleet of spacecraft into the solar system to mine asteroids for metals and minerals.

The first mission could be flown in 2015, with each journey lasting up to six months.



http://news.sky.com/story/1074629/nasa-plans-to-lasso-asteroid-and-land-on-it



So it must be safe to send humans into space.???

can we offer a couple of posters on here as cargo ?

gerber wrote:can we offer a couple of posters on here as cargo ?

have a coloured thingy

wyatt1 wrote:A US senator has said Nasa plans to use a robotic spaceship to lasso an asteroid and park it near the Moon for astronauts to explore.

Bill Nelson, chairman of the Senate Science and Space Subcommittee, said the 550-ton space rock could be snatched in 2019.

Local television channel News 13 said that once it had been dragged into a stable orbit, astronauts on board the Orion capsule would mine the rock to learn more about its composition.

It is hoped that four astronauts would nuzzle up next to the rock for spacewalking exploration by 2021, according to a government document.

Donald Yeomans, who leads Nasa's Near Earth Object programme, explained that the asteroid would be captured with the space equivalent of "a baggie with a drawstring".

"You bag it. You attach the solar propulsion module to de-spin it and bring it back to where you want it."

The asteroid would provide scientists with a "unique, meaningful and affordable" destination for the next decade, Senator Nelson was quoted as saying by Florida Today.

Mr Nelson, who represents Florida, told the newspaper that President Barack Obama will put aside $100m (£65m) in planning money for the mission, when the White House unveils its 2014 budget next week.

He said the project would help Nasa defend Earth from a potentially devastating asteroid strike in the future.

It could also help scientists test technologies that could one day be used in a manned mission to Mars.

Last year, the Keck Institute for Space Studies proposed a similar mission for Nasa with a price tag of $2.6 billion. However, the space agency has not yet revealed an estimated cost.

In a separate project, announced in January, US company Deep Space Industries said it planned to send a fleet of spacecraft into the solar system to mine asteroids for metals and minerals.

The first mission could be flown in 2015, with each journey lasting up to six months.



http://news.sky.com/story/1074629/nasa-plans-to-lasso-asteroid-and-land-on-it



So it must be safe to send humans into space.???

Maybe this should be in the 'Conspiracy Theory Debunked'.

wyatt1 wrote:


Maybe this should be in the 'Conspiracy Theory Debunked'.

Are you cold on room 101. Ask Dean to turn up the heating.

Thanks btw

gerber wrote:

Are you cold on room 101. Ask Dean to turn up the heating.

Thanks btw

After finishing LEM's contribution to the booze I am not quite sure what I am

wyatt1 wrote:

After finishing LEM's contribution to the booze I am not quite sure what I am

Maybe I need more coffee - LEM ?

gerber wrote:

Maybe I need more coffee - LEM ?

Lord Edmund, whom Exalted Cass and Exalted I have promoted to 'Prince' status
in order to join us under the Round Table.
You were also included with promotion to 'Duchess' .

wyatt1 wrote:

Lord Edmund, whom Exalted Cass and Exalted I have promoted to 'Prince' status
in order to join us under the Round Table.
You were also included with promotion to 'Duchess' .

Ta muchly.

Obvious when some one tells you what you should have known

gerber wrote:

Ta muchly.

Obvious when some one tells you what you should have known

Warned you 'Old Peculier' supplied by Prince LEM would affect memory!!

wyatt1 wrote:

Warned you 'Old Peculier' supplied by Prince LEM would affect memory!!

I am very grateful Stinking Bishop is not posting today.