January 3, 2013 12:30 pm
NASA Wants to Drag an Asteroid Into Orbit Around the Moon
An artist’s conception of what an asteroid-catcher might look like. Photo: Rick Sternbach / KISS
One of NASA’s current goals for its human spaceflight program is to put people on the surface of an asteroid by the middle of the next decade. That mission would take a new generation of rocket, a new crew capsule and would subject astronauts to the hazards of the longest duration spaceflights outside of the protection of Earth’s atmosphere ever attempted. Popular Science:
[A] manned mission beyond the moon to a faraway asteroid would likely take six months or more to reach even the closest passing asteroid of interest. During that time out from under the protective umbrella of Earth’s magnetic field, astronauts would be exposed to long periods of cosmic radiation–the effects of which aren’t exactly defined.
So if taking people to an asteroid is expensive and risky, might it not be easier to, say, bring the asteroid to us? That is the idea outlined by NASA’s Keck Institute for Space Studies. The scientists imagine shooting a rocket off to a faraway asteroid and tugging the asteroid into orbit around the Moon. An asteroid circling the Moon is much more accessible than one six months off, and the hazards are a little bit more well known. A blog post by Phys.org reads:
In their paper, the Keck team proposes using an Atlas V rocket to launch a craft that once in space would be slow moving, powered by solar heated ions. Once the target is reached, a bag would be opened that would engulf the asteroid – which would likely be no bigger than 7 meters wide – then drag it back and place it into orbit around the moon.
The asteroid catch-and-release, says New Scientist, wouldn’t be possible for a while—not until the 2020s—and the mission itself would take from six to ten years to carry out.
Though bringing an asteroid to the Moon would certainly make the asteroid-studying aspect of the mission much simpler, President Obama originally outlined the asteroid visit as a stepping stone to putting people on the surface of Mars, says Space.com. While the proposition may solve a number of problems, it could also be seen as a case of missing the forest for the trees.
More from Smithsonian.com:
Don Quijote May Tilt at an Asteroid
Giant Paintball Gun Could Save the World From Death-by-Asteroid
To the Asteroids and Beyond
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2013 Feb 14 – 16
ALL THAT EVER LIVED ON EARTH WILL SOON HAVE THEIR EYES TO THE HEAVENS
Do a little History on this one.
ALL Should Look Up “2012 DA14″.
This could take out one of more satellites and the junk and debris from the hit could end up taking out many more satellites very soon after that. All the satellite collision probability will go way up if even one is hit. The velocity that the parts would go to would make them missiles that would start targeting a chain reaction this would not be good.
Most all will be watching this one and pray it goes by us without a hit. Every Scientist alive will be watching this event. Many will be in Florida for a very special viewing of the once in a Lifetime Event. Professors, Scientist, World Leaders, Ham Radio Operators and Every Astronomer will have its eyes on This Event, along with almost every TV set on Earth.
“2012 DA14″ goes by Earth twice a year and there is no way anyone for sure, can tell how close the second pass will be till it passes by the Moon and Earth and the GRAVITATIONAL FORCE effect that it will have on this Asteroid.
They may come close but this one is already coming very close to begin with. Too close this time or on its second or 3rd pass? Ad a Meteor Shower like the 13 and 14 of December of 2012, it might go through or bump into one of them? Or all the other orbital debris like Spent Rocket Boosters left in space that can no longer be moved by a control center on Earth.
If a big enough one were to slam into the moon in the night sky you would think the sun was coming up early only it would be 5 to 7 times as bright. From The Sun’s Rays Reflection on all the Debris Field.
2012 XM16, 2012 XM55, 2012 XP55, THERE ARE OVER 25 found just this year 2012 that are part of the Near Earth Object Program that will come close to Earth from now till 2012 DA14 comes.
You do not want to know how many are on the “PLANETARY DEFENSE” list.
The PLANETARY DEFENSE is not to protect Earth from men from Mars.
It is for all mankind with most all Nation in on it to stop if can most all collision with EARTH from a ASTEROID IMPACT. It is if you will a AVOIDANCE SHIELD. “N.E.O.S. Near Earth Object Shield”.
If only one were to hit or IMPACT EARTH on land get ready for a winter you will never forget. The winter from 1883 -1884 KRAKATOA you will think was a little pebble, and now the stone comes.
A Shock Wave was felt in England from a Event about 7:15 to 7:20 A.M. Siberia time in the morning in June of the year 1908 high in the sky above the Forest in the remote wilderness of Tunguska Siberia heard an explosion that laid flat more than 800 square miles of the forest with all the trees pointing away from the center of the blast with most all the trees laying on their side. Some trees that were right below the blast were still there looking like telephone poles with no bark or branches left on them. This Asteroid did not even hit the Ground and this is known by most as the TUNGUSKA EVENT. For all that lived there it was WORMWOOD Rev 8:11 the wood became full of worms and the rivers water no longer sweet and undrinkable.
If a Meteor Shower is big enough you might think all the stars are falling from Heaven.
About one every 100 years makes it into the Earth’s Atmosphere big enough for all to take note. Some make it to the surface the signs are all over the Planet and moon from the ones that have.
If you need a visual sign of a collided impact with a planet look to
“SHOEMAKER – LEVY 9″ July 1994.
You Need More Look up “PROJECT WORMWOOD”
Better to be safe then sorry.
GET READY
Read your Bible
While you still can,
and May our Lord GOD Bless all that do so.
John 14 : 6
Luke 13 : 27
Matthew 7 : 20 – 27
Matthew 12:39
Matthew 24:3 – 14
The Lord’s Little Helper.
Paul Felix Schott.
P.S.
Help others in are Lord’s name Jesus Christ help bring all to know him while you still can.
Comment by Paul Felix Schott — January 5, 2013 @ 5:22 pm
So, lemme get this straight.. we are gonna use the “Ball-in-a-cup” maneuver to forage for a free range asteroid in a humane, catch and release program? With something that looks like you are trying to catch a fastball with a paper bag. And we cant have a Death Star. okie dokie.
Comment by Joe — April 7, 2013 @ 10:41 am