Thread: NASA touts plan to grab asteroid as 'unprecedented technological feat'

Looks like NASA's budget is coming back to life. I kind of like the idea of grabbing asteroids and bringing them back to earth orbit, if we can do it safely. I believe mining asteroids will be the driving force behind private and public investment in space operations of the future. Plus if we have the technology to move asteroids we should be able to defend earth from any future asteroid strikes to the planet.

Does anybody not want to do this NASA project?

NASA touts plan to grab asteroid as 'unprecedented technological feat' - Cosmic Log

I say,
BRING IT ON!

Does anybody not want to do this NASA project?

While doing this many other robotic spacecraft could be sent to study other planets like we are already doing but with better equipment to send there today than before. Why do we need to grab a asteroid and bring it back here?

We already have landed on them, explored them, found what most are made of and have allot of data so why bring one back? If more information is needed about them just send more robotic craft to them. We already know that if we detonate a small or even moderate explosion near the asteroid , it would alter its course to avoid hitting Earth. What we need to be doing is making ways to find out where the asteroids that might be headed to Earth are located to keep a watch on them so when the time comes we can alter its course as to not hit Earth. That would be much more prudent, to me, than bringing an asteroid back to Earth.

So get those robotic craft going out to explore more and find out more about space, we know so little but are making headway as long as exploration continues.

I'll be impressed when a Mcdonald's is opened on one.

Originally Posted by shlunka

I'll be impressed when a Mcdonald's is opened on one.

Most are rather small so only a hot dog vendor would fit. It could be called astro-dogs.

Originally Posted by shlunka

I'll be impressed when a Mcdonald's is opened on one.

With a salad bar. We don't need fat astronauts that can't lift off the ground.

Originally Posted by Neverfly

Originally Posted by shlunka

I'll be impressed when a Mcdonald's is opened on one.

With a salad bar. We don't need fat astronauts that can't lift off the ground.

But in space, you don't weigh anything so that that wouldn't matter to what your flying in out there would it.

Originally Posted by cosmictraveler

Originally Posted by Neverfly

Originally Posted by shlunka

I'll be impressed when a Mcdonald's is opened on one.

With a salad bar. We don't need fat astronauts that can't lift off the ground.

But in space, you don't weigh anything so that that wouldn't matter to what your flying in out there would it.

You don't lift off from Space.

Originally Posted by cosmictraveler

Does anybody not want to do this NASA project?

While doing this many other robotic spacecraft could be sent to study other planets like we are already doing but with better equipment to send there today than before. Why do we need to grab a asteroid and bring it back here?

We already have landed on them, explored them, found what most are made of and have allot of data so why bring one back? If more information is needed about them just send more robotic craft to them. We already know that if we detonate a small or even moderate explosion near the asteroid , it would alter its course to avoid hitting Earth. What we need to be doing is making ways to find out where the asteroids that might be headed to Earth are located to keep a watch on them so when the time comes we can alter its course as to not hit Earth. That would be much more prudent, to me, than bringing an asteroid back to Earth.

So get those robotic craft going out to explore more and find out more about space, we know so little but are making headway as long as exploration continues.

Asteroid Mining: Key to the Space Economy

Asteroid Mining: Key to the Space Economy | Space.com

Maybe this article will help change your mind?

You don't lift off from Space

.

I agree but I was thinking that those astronauts would be traveling a very long way to get to those asteroids so they would be getting rid of any fat by the time they returned home I'd think. I mean it is a very long time to get back home from an asteroid visit and they would have plenty of time to work off any excess weight.

Originally Posted by cosmictraveler

You don't lift off from Space

.

I agree but I was thinking that those astronauts would be traveling a very long way to get to those asteroids so they would be getting rid of any fat by the time they returned home I'd think. I mean it is a very long time to get back home from an asteroid visit and they would have plenty of time to work off any excess weight.

How- by lifting weights? Jogging?

Originally Posted by cosmictraveler

You don't lift off from Space

.

I agree but I was thinking that those astronauts would be traveling a very long way to get to those asteroids so they would be getting rid of any fat by the time they returned home I'd think. I mean it is a very long time to get back home from an asteroid visit and they would have plenty of time to work off any excess weight.

The article did say we have plenty of NEA's to keep us busy for a long while. So the trip won't be as far as you are thinking. Also, I believe ion engines will continue to improve and we will be able to get around the solar system somewhat faster than we do today.

Originally Posted by Bad Robot

Also, I believe ion engines will continue to improve and we will be able to get around the solar system somewhat faster than we do today.

Or putt-putt engines if they build Taco Bell instead of McDonalds.

i'm excited about them doing this. it will be good practice.

I'm excited too.
I can't wait for the first one to fall out of orbit and obliterate somewhere expensive and then see who holds their hand up saying "Oops, was that the wrong button?"


Taking an alternative tack: bring it on.
At last us old sci-fi geeks will be seeing of the future Heinlein and company "promised" us.

[QUOTE=Bad Robot;411645][QUOTE=cosmictraveler;411635]

You don't lift off from Space

.

The article did say we have plenty of NEA's to keep us busy for a long while. So the trip won't be as far as you are thinking. Also, I believe ion engines will continue to improve and we will be able to get around the solar system somewhat faster than we do today.

The ion engine has a small amount of thrust, so it takes a long time to get up to speed. When the ion propulsion system begins operation, DS1 will be in LEO (low Earth orbit) and moving at a slow stately pace (for spacecraft) of about 17,000 mph. The ion engine will then take 15 months and increase the speed of the satellite by 8000 miles per hour. This will top the satellite out at around 25,000 mph after about 15 months.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...RdubN2IX9foAzQ

Asteroid Mining: Key to the Space Economy

The asteroids that are nearest the Sun are mostly made of carbon while the ones further away are made up of silicate rock.

The metallic asteroids are composed of up to 80% iron.

There are four major classes of asteroids: C type, D type, S type, and V type. Each has a different composition and position in the universe.

C type are found in the outer areas of the main belt and are darker and more carbonaceous the S type.

S type are found in the inner area of the main belt, closer to Mars, and are composed of mostly stone and iron.

D type are also known as the Trojan asteroids of Jupiter and are dark and carbonaceous in nature.

V type are a far out group. They hang out between the orbits of Jupiter and Uranus and are made of igneous, eruptive materials.



So why do we need these materials back here on Earth, we have billions of tons of them here. The cost of getting an asteroid and bringing it back to Earth orbit then mining it in space would be outrageously expensive making for the cost of anything mined that was so expensive no one could afford to buy anything made from that way.

Anything that pushes us into the last great wilderness is good by me.

Why not just send robotic craft that we can learn things from? We just about lost the James Webb telescope due to budget costs but now this type of program is being developed which will cost millions as well.

We do not need to mine asteroids, we need to explore and examine things in space that we know little about.

Originally Posted by cosmictraveler

Asteroid Mining: Key to the Space Economy

The asteroids that are nearest the Sun are mostly made of carbon while the ones further away are made up of silicate rock.

The metallic asteroids are composed of up to 80% iron.

There are four major classes of asteroids: C type, D type, S type, and V type. Each has a different composition and position in the universe.

C type are found in the outer areas of the main belt and are darker and more carbonaceous the S type.

S type are found in the inner area of the main belt, closer to Mars, and are composed of mostly stone and iron.

D type are also known as the Trojan asteroids of Jupiter and are dark and carbonaceous in nature.

V type are a far out group. They hang out between the orbits of Jupiter and Uranus and are made of igneous, eruptive materials.



So why do we need these materials back here on Earth, we have billions of tons of them here. The cost of getting an asteroid and bringing it back to Earth orbit then mining it in space would be outrageously expensive making for the cost of anything mined that was so expensive no one could afford to buy anything made from that way.

You don't sound like you read the second article I posted. For the most part we need to be able to support our space activities without sucking resources from earth the old fashion very expensive way of launching them up into space and then transporting them. Especially water, and asteroids will be a source for water.

Originally Posted by Dywyddyr

I'm excited too.
I can't wait for the first one to fall out of orbit and obliterate somewhere expensive and then see who holds their hand up saying "Oops, was that the wrong button?"


Taking an alternative tack: bring it on.
At last us old sci-fi geeks will be seeing of the future Heinlein and company "promised" us.

I'm sure they don't plan to put them in low earth orbit, so I wouldn't worry about them falling out of orbit.

Rats!
Time to dust off and update my "Evil Mastermind Plan".

Then again, LEO is far cheaper to get to... it might be "prudent" (financially) to at least put the early ones in LEO until production feeds back enough cash/resources to make higher orbits economically feasible.

Originally Posted by Dywyddyr

Rats!
Time to dust off and update my "Evil Mastermind Plan".

Then again, LEO is far cheaper to get to... it might be "prudent" (financially) to at least put the early ones in LEO until production feeds back enough cash/resources to make higher orbits economically feasible.

Initially maybe, but even a single accident would be very bad for business. I think maybe in a hundred years we will be able get around the solar system easy and quickly enough to mine the asteroids in place and then transport to the buyer. But we will have to get started as best we can and that usually means watching the bottom line and taking some chances.

Originally Posted by Bad Robot

Initially maybe, but even a single accident would be very bad for business.

Bah, it's only people dying.
Go pressgang some extra peasants.
On a slightly less evil-overlord tack, a lot of (most?) nascent industries suffer accidents/ incidents. Yet we persist if we consider the end worthwhile.
Nuclear power = nuclear disasters - we continue.
Mining industry = mining disasters - we continue.
Space race = launch disasters - we continue.
&c &c...

I think maybe in a hundred years we will be able get around the solar system easy and quickly enough to mine the asteroids in place and then transport to the buyer. But we will have to get started as best we can and that usually means watching the bottom line and taking some chances.

Agreed.
With the small proviso that we make allow the peasants to take the chances.

Originally Posted by Dywyddyr

Originally Posted by Bad Robot

Initially maybe, but even a single accident would be very bad for business.

Bah, it's only people dying.
Go pressgang some extra peasants.
On a slightly less evil-overlord tack, a lot of (most?) nascent industries suffer accidents/ incidents. Yet we persist if we consider the end worthwhile.
Nuclear power = nuclear disasters - we continue.
Mining industry = mining disasters - we continue.
Space race = launch disasters - we continue.
&c &c...

I think maybe in a hundred years we will be able get around the solar system easy and quickly enough to mine the asteroids in place and then transport to the buyer. But we will have to get started as best we can and that usually means watching the bottom line and taking some chances.

Agreed.
With the small proviso that we make allow the peasants to take the chances.

Okay peasants are good and there's no shortage of people that need jobs. Business is good.

What if they bring the asteroid back and place it in Earth orbit but a giant beast hatch's out of its center and devours everyone on Earth? Hey perhaps a new short story is starting.

Originally Posted by cosmictraveler

What if they bring the asteroid back and place it in Earth orbit but a giant beast hatch's out of its center and devours everyone on Earth?

That would be even cooler.
In fact a MUCH better reason for doing it than mere profit.

i hate to rain on your parade but they don't intend to bring it into an earth orbit but "...to a stable point in high lunar orbit or at a gravitational balance point beyond the far side of the moon."

as to the mining of asteroids, it'll only be economical if the product is kept in space and utilised there.

Originally Posted by Chrispen Evan

i hate to rain on your parade but they don't intend to bring it into an earth orbit but "...to a stable point in high lunar orbit or at a gravitational balance point beyond the far side of the moon."

as to the mining of asteroids, it'll only be economical if the product is kept in space and utilised there.

Ah ha, the beast from the dark side of the moon!

Originally Posted by Chrispen Evan

i hate to rain on your parade but they don't intend to bring it into an earth orbit but "...to a stable point in high lunar orbit or at a gravitational balance point beyond the far side of the moon."

Damn.
The thoughtless, safety minded, bastards!