NASA experts are going to catch a real asteroid for its detailed comprehensive study. The American Aerospace Agency revealed some of the details of the upcoming unique mission. The asteroid is planned to be captured using a special unmanned probe, after which it will be delivered to the orbit of the Moon, where the astronauts will be sent earlier. NASA expects to send the Orion space shuttle with the crew on board to the asteroid previously caught and moved with the help of an unmanned robotic system with a special dome. The flight to the captured asteroid will take about 9 days. Having reached the destination of their flight, the astronauts will collect all the necessary samples of the asteroid in a special container, which will be sent to Earth for further analysis. It is assumed that the main part of the planned operation will take place no earlier than 2021.
Scientists from NASA are confident that the secret of the origin of our universe is kept inside asteroids. That is why the American Space Agency announced its perhaps the most ambitious research program in the last decade. If before that the composition of asteroids that fell to Earth was studied, now rock samples are planned to be taken directly in space.
“From our past research, we have concluded that when the solar system was just beginning to form from a cloud of gas, all the planets we know were formed at almost the same time as a star. Thus, the asteroids in space are clumps of the very original matter, which never turned into planets. Studying these samples can help humanity answer questions about the origin of our universe,”said John Gransfield, NASA's assistant director of research.
Asteroids, like the solar system, are 4.5 billion years old. At the same time, today scientists know 3 main types of celestial bodies, the most valuable of which are asteroids of two classes: M and S. These space blocks are rich in precious metals and iron, they have platinum and gold. Dreaming of space metallurgy, astrophysicists are studying other types of asteroids - carbon ones. Such asteroids can contain large reserves of water, as well as various organic compounds.
First, according to scientists, water from such asteroids can be used during space missions. In order to lift into orbit from the Earth the same volume of water that is contained in asteroids, huge sums will be needed, what is it for, if there is already water in space? Second, the water that is contained in asteroids can be separated into hydrogen and oxygen for rocket fuel. In addition, S-class asteroids contain large amounts of phosphorus, organic carbon and other key elements that are necessary for plant fertilization, Dante Loretta, who is the principal investigator of NASA's asteroid capture project, told reporters.
Researching the universe with telescopes, scientists have already counted about half a million asteroids within our solar system. The use of special spectrometers helps scientists determine the type of space object and select the most suitable samples for study. It is assumed that the diameter of the studied asteroid will not exceed 10 meters, and the mass - 500 tons. According to scientists, such a mission would not pose any danger to people on Earth, since an asteroid of this size would simply burn up upon entering the Earth's atmosphere. The experience gained during the implementation of this project will be useful for landing people on a large asteroid by 2025 and a flight to Mars in 2030, NASA reports. In 2014, the American Space Agency wants to start creating technology and choosing a suitable asteroid. For these purposes, NASA has applied for an initial project budget of $ 78 million.
According to NASA Assistant Director Robert Lightfoot, until around 2016, the agency plans to study, classify, and select suitable asteroids for the upcoming mission and develop all the necessary technologies. At the final stage of research, it is planned to work out the question of how astronauts can visit the captured asteroid.
According to the head of NASA Charles Bolden, the agency's specialists are determined and ready to fulfill the task set by US President Barack Obama - to send people to the asteroid by 2025. In preparation for this mission in 2021, it is planned to capture and tow a small asteroid. According to Bolden, this mission will take human knowledge and exploration of outer space to a new level, which will help protect the Earth and bring humanity closer to sending people to an asteroid.
The objective of this intermediate project is to capture a small asteroid and transfer it to a circumlunar orbit. After that, the astronauts will fly to the asteroid. It is planned to carry out it with the help of NASA's Space Launch System and the new Orion spacecraft. It is planned that the unmanned, test launch of Orion should take place in 2017. According to the director of NASA, this mission will not only show the level and capabilities of modern space technologies, but will also contribute to their development, and will also become the subject of inspiration for schoolchildren and students who are interested in science and technology.
Also, one of the missions to study asteroids is to prevent the threats that these celestial bodies may pose to our planet. Most likely, it was the meeting of the Earth with an asteroid that put an end to the era of dinosaurs. Therefore, humanity must demonstrate that it is still smarter than dinosaurs and is able to stand up for itself, said NASA Deputy Director Laurie Garver. The Americans want not only to study the composition and structure of space blocks, but also to hunt for "monster asteroids" that can threaten our planet. The fall of the Chelyabinsk meteorite in February of this year pushed American specialists to such a direction in the development of the space program.
