Visiting an asteroid
Friday, December 17, 2010 - 10:32
in Astronomy & Space
Asteroids (or comets) whose orbits bring them close to the earth's orbit are called Near Earth Objects (NEOs). Some asteroids are old, dating from the origins of the solar system about four and one-half billion years ago, and expected to be rich in primitive materials. They are of great interest to scientists studying the young solar system. Other NEOs, although not as rich in primitive materials, are thought to contain minerals of potential economic value. NASA has been thinking about sending a manned mission to an NEO for research, and has been motivated as well by a national interest in their possible commercial value.