Chinese researchers look at capturing asteroids in Earth orbit for study and $$$

[Analog]

In an interesting twist regarding the study of asteroids and what happens when they come close to our planet, Hexi Baoyin and his two colleagues, Yang Chen and Junfeng Li at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China have been looking into the possibility of nudging one or more Near Earth Objects (NEOs) into an orbit around the Earth, initially for study, but later on, for the financial windfall that might be had if such an asteroid could be mined for its precious metals. The team has published their results on the pre-print server, arXiv.

For as long as man has been aware of the danger of asteroids or comets hitting our planet, there have been ideas put forth as to ways in which they could deterred or destroyed. As technology has improved, the ideas have become ever more feasible. But until now, it appears no one has thought seriously about turning what could be a problem for us, into a goldmine, so to speak.


In their paper, the team writes about how they’ve been studying how an occasional asteroid has been known to be naturally captured in an orbit around Jupiter, where it stays for a while until it is eventually flung back out into space. The comet, Oterma, for example did just that in 1936. This got them to wondering if any such NEO might be lurking around out there all set to do the same for our planet. Unfortunately, their search turned up empty. Undaunted they then began looking into whether there might be an NEO or two that might come awfully close, and found that indeed there were.



One in particular caught their eye, an asteroid called 2008EA9; at just ten meters across it seems a perfect candidate. Not only is it small enough that if efforts to snag it went asunder and the thing instead plunged into the Earth, it would likely burn up in the atmosphere, but it also just happens to have an orbital velocity near to that of Earth’s. In doing the math, the team found that if they were to speed it up by just 410 meters per second, they could give it just enough of a nudge to cause it to go into an orbit around the Earth, at about a distance twice that of the moon. Close enough to study it, and perhaps bring back samples.


The team, and everyone else presumably, has plenty of time to consider the practicalities and dangers of such a mission, however, as 2008EA9 won’t come around again until 2049.

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-09-chinese-possibility-capturing-asteroids-earth.html

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Only good things could come of this.

 

[Newbian]

I suggest they go after something bigger so at least when they fail they fail big time.

 

[Imp]

Ah, the asteroid orbit business. No chance of failure there, and with such small repercussions, it'd be stupid not to!

 

[gophins72]

i think it's very cool, and the sci-fi that can arise from it should be awesome!

 

[AstroManLuca]

what could possibly go wrong

 

[Atomic Playboy]

This is the best idea anyone has ever had.

 

[Newbian]

i think it's very cool, and the sci-fi that can arise from it should be awesome!

Reminds me of a sci fi book where the States and China were in a cold war and china decides to crash a asteroid near the states to destroy them but it turns out they miscalculated it's size and wiped out all human life. :biggrin:

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Reminds me of a sci fi book where the States and China were in a cold war and china decides to crash a asteroid near the states to destroy them but it turns out they miscalculated it's size and wiped out all human life. :biggrin:

Well we better get NASA on this stat. We cannot abide an asteroid gap.

 

[Lean L]

Reminds me of a sci fi book where the States and China were in a cold war and china decides to crash a asteroid near the states to destroy them but it turns out they miscalculated it's size and wiped out all human life. :biggrin:

Lol read this as staples vs china... Lol

 

[Red Squirrel]

Why do I expect to soon see ads for:

China Gypsum Company: New space age technology drywall, now with no sulfur! Buy now!

 

[DrPizza]

What mineral is there possibly on an asteroid that such a plan would actually produce a profit?? The bigger the asteroid, the higher the energy costs of nudging it into Earth orbit. How much did it cost to bring back a few moon rocks? Name anything that costs even 5% of that amount.

 

[gothamhunter]

Que the movie Armageddon in 3...2...1...

 

[Macamus Prime]

And this is how the Chinese ended up killing all of us,... and themselves.

 

[gevorg]

The Chinese have truly shoved it to US and Russian space agencies!

 

[JulesMaximus]

What mineral is there possibly on an asteroid that such a plan would actually produce a profit?? The bigger the asteroid, the higher the energy costs of nudging it into Earth orbit. How much did it cost to bring back a few moon rocks? Name anything that costs even 5% of that amount.

This sucker is made of pure rock! :awe:

 

[twinrider1]

Your very own asteroid. But that's not all; call now and we give you TWO asteroids....just pay shipping and handling.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Maybe they could make countertops out of it. Think of how cool it would be to have an asteroid countertop in your kitchen...Imagine the bragging rights!

 

[actuarial]

Maybe they could make countertops out of it. Think of how cool it would be to have an asteroid countertop in your kitchen...Imagine the bragging rights!

Opulence...I has it.

 

[Duder1no]

In an interesting twist regarding the study of asteroids and what happens when they come close to our planet, Hexi Baoyin and his two colleagues, Yang Chen and Junfeng Li at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China have been looking into the possibility of nudging one or more Near Earth Objects (NEOs) into an orbit around the Earth

...or miscalculate and end life on planet earth as we know it

 

[Jeff7]

And so begins the journey to Hiigara.


I wonder where the break-even level is on something like this. Does it have to be made of solid osmium, or what?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

And so begins the journey to Hiigara.


I wonder where the break-even level is on something like this. Does it have to be made of solid osmium, or what?

if there was a stack of gold bricks sitting on the moon, you would lose money bringing them back here.

 

[SlowSpyder]

It's good to know if anything goes wrong we can simply send some oil well operators and a nuclear weapon up after a few days worth of NASA training.

 

[epidemis]

what could possibly go wrong

You mean like LHC producing a small black hole that will swallow up the earth?!?!?

The proposed target would be a 10m diameter body that would break upon entering. I think it's a brilliant idea! Development in this area would automatically bring cost down. It requires longterm thinking!

 

[Fayd]

Well we better get NASA on this stat. We cannot abide an asteroid gap.