April 8th, 2013
11:25 AM ET
Forget falling stars: NASA plans to catch an asteroid
NASA is planning to catch an asteroid and place it in orbit around the moon.
Seriously.
What sounds like something from science fiction is actually a part of President Barack Obama's proposed federal budget for the next fiscal year, according to a Florida senator.
The budget is expected to be unveiled this week.
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Well, are scientists going to consider catching an asteroid and placing it in orbit around a moon or a planet somewhere other than our Moon or our Earth?
Two ways to catch an asteroid. One is to use a trap. The other is to use a fishin rod. I caught a 24 pounder once while fishin in the Mississippi River. Now that was a nice asteroid.
The principles of thermodynamic propulsion reveal this is theoretically possible. Using new molecular technologies in net design one should be able to create a mesh net with strength great enough to contain then slow the asteroid allowing it to be captured. This is analogous in theory to a giant tuna net but of far greater strength.