NASA to Launch Manned Mission to Asteroid

Sunday, July 24, 2011


Though NASA has said they are not having any more manned missions to the moon, that doesn't mean they are throwing in the galactic towel completely. NASA's next planned mission is a half-year journey to the nearest asteroid, in a large belt orbiting the sun.

Let's picture this for a moment, please. NASA wants to throw a giant metal spear at a flying rock thousands of miles from Earth--and not miss. Mind you, I can't even hit the trash can with a Big Mac wrapper from 10 feet away.

Because the nature of this mission is so different than a trip to the moon, NASA has to develop entirely different strategies and equipment to pull this off. For instance, there is no gravity on an asteroid, which means they will have to develop something like a harpoon to attach the shuttle to the rock--much like hunting the great white whale. Also, NASA will need to build an entirely new spacecraft. This shuttle will have to have solar panels, living space and crew capsules. I am expecting this spacecraft to look not unlike the Starship Enterprise. Do not disappoint, NASA.

The clock is ticking at warp speed for NASA; who has until 2025 to complete this mundane task. This manned asteroid mission is just a stepping stone toward the ultimate goal of landing humans on Mars by the 2030's. I don't know if they are aware, but all of NASA's work is going to be in vain. Considering the world is scheduled to end in 2012, these girls better pick up the pace.

via USA Today

3 comments:

  1. I JUST WANT THEM TO FIGURE OUT HOW I CAN LIVE ON MARS ALREADY!!!!!!

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  2. I wonder how much this little charade is going to cost the taxpayers...

    ReplyDelete