One of NASA's most audacious plans for the future is a mission to capture an asteroid and tug it back near Earth within the reach of astronaut explorers. This proposal is illustrated in captivating new detail in a series of images and video released by NASA Thursday (Aug. 22).
The new asteroid mission concept photos from NASA show how the plan would play out in detail. For example, the animations show how a robotic spacecraft could initially lasso in the asteroid and contain it within a giant "asteroid capture bag."
The mission is part of NASA's goal to find and study the space rocks near Earth, including those that may pose an impact danger to our planet. The plan was outlined under President Obama's 2014 budget request.
Artist's Concept Of Asteroid Redirect Mission
Orion Docking Approach(01 of07)
Open Image ModalNASA’s Orion spacecraft approaches the robotic asteroid capture vehicle. The trip from Earth to the captured asteroid would have taken Orion and its two-person crew around nine days. (credit:NASA)
Asteroid Capture In Progress(02 of07)
Open Image ModalThe vehicle captures an asteroid. (credit:NASA/Advanced Concepts Lab)
Spacewalk With Translation Boom(03 of07)
Open Image ModalThe two-person crew uses a translation boom to travel from the Orion spacecraft to the captured asteroid during a spacewalk.
Asteroid Redirect Vehicle With Capture Bag(04 of07)
Open Image ModalAn astronaut prepares to take samples from the captured asteroid after it has been relocated to a stable orbit in the Earth-moon system. Hundreds of rings are affixed to the asteroid capture bag, helping the astronaut carefully navigate the surface.
Asteroid Sample Retrieval(05 of07)
Open Image ModalAn astronaut retrieves a sample from the captured asteroid. (credit:NASA)
Asteroid Sample Storage(06 of07)
Open Image ModalAn astronaut stores a sample that was collected from the captured asteroid. (credit:NASA)
Asteroid Capture Spacecraft In Stowed Configuration(07 of07)
Open Image ModalA notional spacecraft with its asteroid capture mechanism stowed. (credit:NASA/Advanced Concepts Laboratory)
After the initial robotic spacecraft flight, the human crew would travel in an Orion spacecraft, a deep-space capsule NASA is currently developing. Orion should be able to make the trip from Earth to the captured asteroid, which would be parked in an orbit close to the moon's, in about nine days.
One of the new images shows the two-person crew spacewalking toward the asteroid using a long pole called a translation boom. Another picture shows an astronaut exploring the asteroid by holding on to some of the many rings placed all over the asteroid capture bag to provide handholds. Astronauts will plan to collect rock samples from the asteroid bring them back to Earth for study inside a lab.
NASA's plans to refine its vision for the asteroid mission during a workshop to be held Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston. There, agency officials will discuss asteroid mission ideas submitted by researchers and the public with the scientific community to capitalize on the science potential of the mission.
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