NASA project for the transfer of the asteroid orbit of the Moon: Questions and Answers

Habré has published information about NASA plans for the next couple of decades . Among the most interesting items (although the entire plan itself is very interesting) - flight to the asteroid, its intercept and redirect to the orbit of the moon.

This is done for the development of the technology and capture the asteroid, and to explore this subject, and to train astronauts. Of course, the mission is very unusual, and it raises a number of questions like professionals, workers of the space industry, and among the inhabitants. One of these days the web has published a series of questions and answers about this mission. Probably, this information will be very interesting for representatives Habrasoobschestva.

How to perform the mission?

NASA experts have provided two options for the project. The first - the choice of a small asteroid (7-10 meters in diameter) located within walking distance from the Earth to the asteroid automatic sending station to redirect object to orbit the moon. An alternative plan - Extract boulder of the same size of a large asteroid, followed by transportation of this part of the moon.

Once an asteroid enters the space constant "dislocation", a team of two astronauts go to the object for further study. In this case, the flight will be carried out on the ship Orion.

How to find a suitable asteroid? B>

NASA now has identified more than 11 thousand asteroids as being close to the Earth. Already identified three potential sites for the study, and now scientists are closely watching these three candidates.





How much will it cost? B>

Initial estimates show the cost of the mission numbers in 1.25-2.6 billion dollars, and it is - without the development of a new type of spacecraft and capsule Orion.

NASA is now working with a reduced budget, and the delivery of an asteroid mission to orbit the moon - the best that can be taken to the current tasks (travel to Mars as the main objective) and budget.

What are the side objectives of the project? B>

A detailed study of the asteroid suggests the possibility of obtaining information about the origin of this celestial body, as well as the evolution of the solar system. In addition, it will be possible to work redirection circuitry asteroid / asteroids that could threaten Earth.

Asteroids and are also of interest as an object to provide resources, including rare earth metals, base metals and ice, which can be converted into liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The last elements can be used as fuel for rockets, which will reduce the price of the project on the administration to Mars.

Why is the moon? B>

Authors of the project believe that the moon should be used as a launching pad to send missions to different points of the solar system.

Also, a "return" to the moon provides opportunities to test the different technologies and production of minerals. Of course, such projects can not be cheap, so different countries will have to join forces.

What to do in the near future? B>

Currently, scientists have a difficult task - of three potentially suitable for the project asteroids choose the one the one and only. In addition, in December of this year in the United States will conduct a test run of a heavy rocket with a capsule Orion.

Via floridatoday

Source: habrahabr.ru/post/235979/