mooseman
Sounds cool! Eventually, I can imagine small asteroids being brought back and lowered onto the moon to be chopped up there and melted down for the various metals. Get a couple of dozen of these small "space tug" things and you'd be all set. Heck, Bill Gates could get this kind of thing going now!
**This** is where the future is - asteroid-mining! Perfectly clean, almost infinite raw materials, lots of jobs (both making the space-tugs and doing the mining). Let's get it all going!
Slowburn
They ought to put it into LEO and eventually use the mined out tailings as a radiation shield for a manned platform.
David Anderson
The future is beckoning, assuming we don't screw things up too badly inthe meantime...
notarichman
the bag could be left around the asteroid permanently or until a method is devised as a landing dock. but the tug could be re-used. as much as earth needs metals and water for the moon, i'd think us earthlings ought to start on this project right away. however, i foresee legal wrangles and treaties forming in the minds of lawyers and the united nations already.
zaubin
Don't bring any asteroids closer to earth! If something went wrong, it could get pulled towards us...
Stephen N Russell
Awesome idea.
domiq
Id consider politics, space isnt US property, and I dont think Germany, UK, Russia and other big countries would let US take all the minerals. If US goverment doesent talk and make a deal with other countries this mission could start world war 3, so NASA is probably not going to be the only one involved in project. I think that this mission is only possible if big countries make a good deal.
Slowburn
re; zaubin The rock will be slowed all the way to its final orbit if something goes wrong it will be in a higher orbit than intended. If the engineers still have reasonable concerns a few hundred pounds of properly shaped HE will bust the rock into smaller pieces that will burn up on reentry. ...................................................................................................
re; domiq
Space belongs to whoever goes out there and gets it. This will not cause a war despite what you may have heard WWI was not caused by the murder of an Archduke in Sarajevo.
jochair
I'd be surprised if things went as smoothly as hoped, I think the tug may get captured by the asteroid
Gadgeteer
"The study also points out that a carbonaceous asteroid is an excellent source of minerals such as water..."
Water is a mineral? Who knew?
domiq,
I suggest that you read up on the Outer Space Treaty. There actually is such a thing and it's probably older than you are.