NASA considers putting an asteroid into orbit around the Moon
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Artist's concept of the Keck asteroid capture mission (Image: Rick Sternbach / Keck Institute for Space Studies)
Article Summary
To paraphrase an old saying, if the astronaut can’t go to the asteroid, the the asteroid must come to the astronaut. In a study released by the Keck Institute for Space Studies, researchers outlined a mission to tow an asteroid into lunar orbit by 2025 using ion propulsion and a really big bag. The idea is to bring an asteroid close to Earth for easy study and visits by astronauts without the hazards and expense of a deep space mission.
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