NASA Studies Manned Asteroid Mission

[YankeyMCC]

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NASA is appraising a human mission to a near-Earth asteroid—gauging the scientific merit of the endeavor while testing out spacecraft gear, as well as mastering techniques that could prove useful if a space rock ever took aim for our planet.
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“A human mission to a near Earth asteroid would be scientifically worthwhile,” said Chris McKay, deputy scientist in the Constellation science office at the NASA Johnson Space Center. “It could be part of an overall program of understanding these objects. Also, it would be useful, instrumentally, in terms of understanding the threat they pose to the Earth.”
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“Near-Earth object exploration is especially important if the Moon turns out to be bereft of extractable resources,” Jones pointed out. “Astronauts could collect a rich array of samples from the most scientifically interesting sites on the near-Earth object—dating back to the earliest days of the solar system—set up a pilot resource extraction experiment, demonstrate technology necessary for a future near-Earth object deflection mission, and look back at Earth from millions of miles away. The view would be breathtaking,” he said.
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http://www.space.com/news/061116_asteroid_nasa.html


I find this idea exciting. Putting aside the robot vs manned debate for a moment if we're going to do Manned missions (which I hope we do continue to do) an asteroid mission would probably be more important and directly beneficial than a mission to Mars. Asteroids would provide more readily available resources for sustaining a manned presence in space and they pack a significant scientific wallop in terms of what they can tell us about the solar system.

[Mythsaje]

1. Added to the fact that asteroids

may be a source of a myriad of mineral sources that can be put to use, I think this is a great opportunity. I think that exploitation of this floating "space junk" could be put to great use and, hopefully, go a long way toward preventing even more exploitation of mineral wealth here on Earth.

Plus, a number of great scientific minds believe that the future of space exploration may lie in mining and refining projects capitalizing on the availability of these bodies.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. I bet KBR will want to set up a mine. Better there than here, I say.

[Graybeard]

3. And they could pack a very different wallop...

...a very scary type of wallop. Thumbs up for this project, a
lot more meaningful than most of the "make-work"
shuttle waste of money.

[obxhead]

6. years of busy work for the shuttle is millions cheaper...

than a week in Iraq. and thats all i got to say 'bout that.

[flyingfysh]

4. if we get a man to an asteriod

Can we get Bush there and leave him there?

[soothsayer]

5. Plus you can fly around on them for free! No need for expensive

fuel