Topic: Plan to capture and asteroid

[Nemesis]

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Instead of going to an asteroid, bringing one closer to Earth

The idea of a mission to capture and retrieve an asteroid was first advanced by the Keck Institute in April 2012. The idea would be to send a robot, consisting of an electric propulsion unit and a capture bag, to capture an Earth-approaching asteroid of about 500 tons and seven meters in diameter and moving it to a safe high orbit around the moon by 2025. Then the asteroid could be visited at leisure by astronauts flying in the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle launched by the Space Launch System. Such a mission, which would cost $2.65 billion according to Aviation Week, and would provide a synergy between robotic and human exploration systems.

[Javora]

What could possibly go wrong??!?   
 

[Javora]

ROTFLOL

 

[Nemesis]

They are talking a small asteroid and lunar orbit so the danger should be low.

[knightstorm]

They shouldn't mess with the oribts of near earth asteroids unless they're absolutely sure of their calculations, and they're sure that all of their equipment was calibrated using the proper units of measurements.  Although, this sounds like one of those pie in the sky proposal that's never going to get the budget to go past a design study.  The history of space exploration is littered with those sorts of things.

[Javora]

I see the ultimate Darwin award in the making...   

[knightstorm]

You see, that's what I mean. Miscalculations, cheap made in China equipment (no disrespect intended), ehh the list goes on.

Adam

I'm thinking more of that Mars probe we lost because for some #$%(ing reason the manufacturers weren't using the metric system.

[NJAntman]

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...visited at leisure by astronauts flying in the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle launched by the Space Launch System. Such a mission, which would cost $2.65 billion according to Aviation Week, and would provide a synergy between robotic and human exploration systems.

Sure hope it is a liesurely pace since the SLS is a bueracratic cluster-f that won't be ready anytime soon at anything near claimed cost. Orin & SLS are just the latest Senate jobs machine rolling along under the Florida sun. The only synergy it will provide is between tax dollars and bought votes.

Pop off a probe to the asteroid instead and publicly list the findings. A few billion worth of precious metals will stir the innovation and technology pot real quick.

[Nemesis]

Bringing it close to directly study has major advantages in the flexibility of the study.    Just for one even without sending people directly too it a lunar orbit is close enough for direct control of the probes.  Close enough to send successor probes with less than 10 years of redesign. 

As to getting people there the Falcon 9 Heavy is another option as the Falcon 9 and Dragon capsule designs are proving out.