NASA have two options as to drag the asteroid

After ESA experts put the unit on a comet, friends from NASA must adequately respond. Their plan is even more ambitious: to capture the whole asteroid made of platinum, iron or other material - and transport it into lunar orbit in 2019.

However, having a little complication: NASA can not choose between two options transactions Asteroid Redirect Mission . The final decision would have to announce the December 16, 2014, but agree not come . Both groups of engineers provide excellent projects, so that could not immediately determine the best of them. Decision postponed until early 2015. However, this will not affect the timing of the surgery for the delivery of the asteroid.




Plan A i>



Plan B i>

Selecting from a NASA. A plan provides for the seizure of the whole asteroid about 10 meters in diameter by using a kind of bag, and Plan B - a complex operation with the capture of a robotic arm with a large piece of the surface (see. The video below). In both cases an automatic aircraft and engine Solar (solar-electric propulsion).



The second option is more difficult, but interesting. It allows you to try many different mechanisms that come in handy in a Mars mission.

The final choice of NASA announced in early 2015. In any case, the operation Asteroid Redirect will take place in 2019 or later.

A few years an asteroid or a fragment thereof will rotate in lunar orbit. Then, around 2024, NASA hopes to send a manned spacecraft to him. It is likely that it will be a private ship "Orion", which is now successfully tested. By the way, on the "Orion" Americans plan in 2030s to make first trip to Mars, so that the study of the asteroid will also become one of the stages of preparation.



Run "Orion" December 5, 2014 i>

Budget Asteroid Redirect Mission - $ 1, 25 billion (Plan A) or $ 1, 35 billion (Plan B).

Source: geektimes.ru/post/243183/