FARK.com: (7685270) If you want to study an asteroid, all you need to do is lasso one with a robotic spaceship. This according to a US Senator

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		If you want to study an asteroid, all you need to do is lasso one with a robotic spaceship. This according to a US Senator (azcentral.com)		103
		More: Strange, asteroids, US Senator, NASA, near earth objects, spacecrafts

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6506 clicks; posted to Main » on 05 Apr 2013 at 11:11 PM | Favorite | share:

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Joelogon		2013-04-05 08:18:10 PM

timujin		2013-04-05 08:47:17 PM

After the MSL landing, I have little doubt we can lasso an asteroid.

dugitman		2013-04-05 09:16:14 PM

timujin: After the MSL landing, I have little doubt we can lasso an asteroid.

Oldiron_79		2013-04-05 11:14:25 PM

Is it the same one worried about capsizing Guam?

megarian		2013-04-05 11:14:33 PM

Um....

Alright, yeah. Okay.

lack of warmth		2013-04-05 11:15:30 PM

Why no Florida tag? Is it hiding from this one?

Loren		2013-04-05 11:17:53 PM

And where does the Δv come from to move the asteroid?

JasonOfOrillia		2013-04-05 11:20:19 PM

Slim Pickens is a senator?

BitwiseShift		2013-04-05 11:21:12 PM

I'm so glad the Senator didn't confuse asteroid with hemorrhoid -- it's a common mistake among politicians, especially when it regards ropes.

Rozinante		2013-04-05 11:21:40 PM

Loren: And where does the Δv come from to move the asteroid?

Jesus.

Notabunny		2013-04-05 11:22:11 PM

Why spend another day not catching an asteroid in a cup, when you could be catching an asteroid in a cup?

stirfrybry		2013-04-05 11:22:41 PM

Loren: And where does the Δv come from to move the asteroid?

Hope and change

Albino Squid		2013-04-05 11:23:02 PM

The odd thing is not that Nelson said it...it's that he's accurately describing what they are planning to do, per the quote from the head of the project. Though he describes it as a bag with a string rather than a lasso.

doglover		2013-04-05 11:24:32 PM

timujin: After the MSL landing, I have little doubt we can lasso an asteroid.

The Applejack mission will be something to see.

Flint Ironstag		2013-04-05 11:26:03 PM

Notabunny: [img.photobucket.com image 575x443]

Why spend another day not catching an asteroid in a cup, when you could be catching an asteroid in a cup?

Surely it would be better value for money, and provide more data, to capture two asteroids once you have the 'cup' out there? I look forward to seeing how they do it should such a "two asteroids, one cup" video be made available.

ChiliBoots		2013-04-05 11:28:23 PM

Loren: And where does the Δv come from to move the asteroid?

Who said anything about moving it when we could just strangle it to death?

MurphyMurphy		2013-04-05 11:29:35 PM

If we can manage to pull this off in a manner that grabs commercial/industrial attention (the discussion is already over on viability of commercial space ventures) we could see a whole new industry crop up over the next few decades.

I remember reading a discussion about how even if an asteroid were made of gold, using today's technologies and practices it would be a cost-prohibitive exercise to bring those materials to Earth... however gold is a terrible example as there are metals out there worth many magnitudes more than their "weight in gold".

It would open a new avenue for the incredibly rare resources that countless next-gen techs rely on. There are lots of hurdles in the way
(not just getting to the rock, bringing it back or landing on it but analyzing and picking the right ones that will be productive)

And while it might seem cost prohibitive now vs dealing with China or finding new deposits here on Earth, I would like to see a comparison of environmental impacts between the tons of crap we dump into our environment on one vehicle launch into space vs the massive strip mining projects required to even locate (let alone harvest) a new and significant rare earth deposit somewhere on Earth.

Shadowtag		2013-04-05 11:30:14 PM

I think we take "politicians are wrong about everything" as a given now. Even when they're occasionally right about something, they're wrong because they said it stupidly.

Man On Pink Corner		2013-04-05 11:30:16 PM

Loren: And where does the Δv come from to move the asteroid?

The asteroid already has plenty of v, so it doesn't take much of a nudge to set it up for orbital capture.

themasterdebater		2013-04-05 11:31:24 PM

Do we have Bruce Willis on the case?

fusillade762		2013-04-05 11:32:31 PM

a top senator revealed Friday

Top. Senators.

using an Orion space capsule, now being developed

Two Orion threads in one day? Though I'm thinking this isn't going to be the original Orion "Boom boom" plan.

Amos Quito		2013-04-05 11:32:42 PM

BitwiseShift: I'm so glad the Senator didn't confuse asteroid with hemorrhoid -- it's a common mistake among politicians, especially when it regards ropes.

harlingenchamber.com

We're gonna need a bigger tube.

Amos Quito		2013-04-05 11:35:54 PM

FTA: "The government document said the mission, with no price tag at the moment, would inspire because it "will send humans farther than they have ever been before."

If Florida, these are called "famous last words".

freewill		2013-04-05 11:38:09 PM

At 25 feet, its less of a spacewalk and more of a spacehug.

Hoopy Frood		2013-04-05 11:39:42 PM

Yes please		2013-04-05 11:44:18 PM

JFK said it best: We do these things not because we should, but just to see if maybe we can.

Bill_Wick's_Friend		2013-04-05 11:52:37 PM

Loren: And where does the Δv come from to move the asteroid?

The triangle is your ship. The V shaped thing is the button you press for thrusters.

/knows a thing or two about asteroids

Gyrfalcon		2013-04-06 12:02:08 AM

This would either be the most awesome thing since the Apollo landings....or end Earth as we know it when we accidentally lasso some kind of sleeping beast that's been sleeping in orbit for thousands of millennia and thaw it out, thus causing it to eat everything alive on the surface of our planet.

So either way, it's a win-win!

WeenerGord		2013-04-06 12:02:29 AM

Maybe the senators could suck the asteroid out of space using a series of tubes.

Amos Quito		2013-04-06 12:03:48 AM

Hoopy Frood: [25.media.tumblr.com image 478x356]

It's a Wonderful Life.

Isn't it?

WeenerGord		2013-04-06 12:06:02 AM

Gyrfalcon: This would either be the most awesome thing since the Apollo landings....or end Earth as we know it when we accidentally lasso some kind of sleeping beast that's been sleeping in orbit for thousands of millennia and thaw it out, thus causing it to eat everything alive on the surface of our planet.

So either way, it's a win-win!

Belias		2013-04-06 12:06:31 AM

Allowing for a bit of layman's conversion, the senator is actually not too far from the truth. For those questioning the Δv, note that the $100 million is to find the right asteroid - one not only of the right size/composition, but who's current path is conducive to nudging into capture orbit with a reasonable thrust amount.

Holy hell, did I just defend a senator?

Warlordtrooper		2013-04-06 12:06:34 AM

Shadowtag: I think we take "politicians are wrong about everything" as a given now. Even when they're occasionally right about something, they're wrong because they said it stupidly.

How is

"It really is a clever concept," Nelson said in a press conference in Orlando. "Go find your ideal candidate for an asteroid. Go get it robotically and bring it back."

said stupidly? I mean he simplified an extremely challenging task to basic terms that any idiot can understand but what you get from him is the basic concept of what NASA wants to attempt.

Now Ted Stevens on the other hand "The internet is a series of tubes" tried to do the same thing but he couldn't even understand it on the most simple of levels and so what he said sounded so stupid that the nation collectively face palmed when then heard it.

Infernalist		2013-04-06 12:07:37 AM

I'm hoping this leads toward an effort to establish a human presence in the asteroid belt. Mars is a bust, after all. Better to head out into the solar system than head inward.

First the asteroid belt, then onto the moons of Jupiter.

skinink		2013-04-06 12:11:32 AM

Amos Quito: BitwiseShift: I'm so glad the Senator didn't confuse asteroid with hemorrhoid -- it's a common mistake among politicians, especially when it regards ropes.

[harlingenchamber.com image 500x200]

We're gonna need a bigger tube.

In the Senate his plan was known as Preparation H, but then the name was changed to the Alan Parsons Project.

maxheck		2013-04-06 12:11:36 AM

Oddly enough, NASA seems to agree.

Biser		2013-04-06 12:13:29 AM

Loren: And where does the Δv come from to move the asteroid?

He said they were going to use an Orion capsule to get it. The Chinese and Russians would go bat shiat insane if they tried an Orion drive. In short, it's a fusion bomb going off behind a solid shield. Lather, rinse and repeat. It could be attempted since small bombs of 200 kt size only weigh 325 pounds (W-89 warhead).

Technically possible, politically impossible.

KrispyKritter		2013-04-06 12:15:39 AM

Yes please: JFK said it best: We do these things not because we should, but just to see if maybe we can.

i'm picturing him slapping marilyn's ass while hearing the bad accent in my head as i read that

Notabunny		2013-04-06 12:16:59 AM

KrispyKritter: Yes please: JFK said it best: We do these things not because we should, but just to see if maybe we can.

i'm picturing him slapping marilyn's ass while hearing the bad accent in my head as i read that

Chowdair! SAY IT!

boinkingbill		2013-04-06 12:20:45 AM

Where is Slim Pickens when you need him? Actually, a giant fish net would work better. Geez, maybe this will lead to a new sport: Asteroid Riding. This is obviously satire.

EdNortonsTwin		2013-04-06 12:22:48 AM

Its a good thing those asteroids stop on a dime we could just rope one in to near earth orbit.

Yeeeeeeaaaaaaa.

davidphogan		2013-04-06 12:25:16 AM

Albino Squid: The odd thing is not that Nelson said it...it's that he's accurately describing what they are planning to do, per the quote from the head of the project. Though he describes it as a bag with a string rather than a lasso.

What's odd about that?

The Snow Dog		2013-04-06 12:26:31 AM

Why don't we just go study the one at Sun-Earth L4, 2010 TK₇? Now just deposit that into my account and get to work. (I know 300m is bigger than you're looking for and you aren't going to want to tow it towards Earth, but I'll bet there are a couple of smaller ones there in the Greek camp that you could slow up a bit.)

Fano		2013-04-06 12:27:08 AM

Not enough baobab trees in this plan.

Theaetetus		2013-04-06 12:28:22 AM

Subby: If you want to study an asteroid, all you need to do is lasso one with a robotic spaceship. This according to a US Senator

The Senator:Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said the plan would speed up by four years the existing mission to land astronauts on an asteroid by bringing the space rock closer to Earth.

Nelson, who is chairman of the Senate science and space subcommittee, said Friday that President Barack Obama is putting $100 million in planning money for the accelerated asteroid mission in the 2014 budget that comes out next week. The money would be used to find the right small asteroid.

"It really is a clever concept," Nelson said in a press conference in Orlando. "Go find your ideal candidate for an asteroid. Go get it robotically and bring it back."

Uh, yeah, Subby, that's exactly how it works. What's your point?

I'm confused... Is this a "make fun of Subby's fearmongering" thread?

The Snow Dog		2013-04-06 12:29:58 AM

Infernalist: I'm hoping this leads toward an effort to establish a human presence in the asteroid belt. Mars is a bust, after all. Better to head out into the solar system than head inward.

First the asteroid belt, then onto the moons of Jupiter.

Say what now? How do you not know where Mars is?

joonyer		2013-04-06 12:32:45 AM

Joelogon: [www.bookfever.com image 454x679]

Holy nightmare fuel.

Thank you.

Theaetetus		2013-04-06 12:35:04 AM

Warlordtrooper: Now Ted Stevens on the other hand "The internet is a series of tubes" tried to do the same thing but he couldn't even understand it on the most simple of levels and so what he said sounded so stupid that the nation collectively face palmed when then heard it.

Which is sad, because, as much of an illiterate dickbag as Sen. Taintlicker Stevens was, he was correct: the Internet is like a series of tubes and they can be filled by people watching movies, such that his email could be delayed. That's how QoS works. The only part he actually got wrong is that this is the preferred behavior under modern flow management systems, and his whining about not receiving the latest Larry Craig nude dancing GIFs is irrelevant.

Albino Squid		2013-04-06 12:36:23 AM

davidphogan: Albino Squid: The odd thing is not that Nelson said it...it's that he's accurately describing what they are planning to do, per the quote from the head of the project. Though he describes it as a bag with a string rather than a lasso.

What's odd about that?

That a United States Senator said something accurate that sounds ridiculous, rather than their usual habit of saying something ridiculous that sounds ridiculous.