Public Panel Overview:
The Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) and The Planetary Society present a public event examining novel ideas for capturing and moving a small Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) closer to Earth. Come learn why these Near-Earth Asteroids are interesting and important objects to explore.
Capturing and moving a small NEA to a specific spot in or near-Earth orbit, perhaps to a gravitationally stable point in the Sun-Earth or Moon-Earth system, may create a stepping stone for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit, or create a target for extracting resources for space applications. The engineering and technology considerations of moving an asteroid are also advancing our knowledge of how to deflect a potentially hazardous NEA that might be on a collision course with Earth.
Presentations:
- Rusty Schweickart, Former Apollo Astronaut and Chair of the B612 Foundation (pdf)
- Dr. Tom Jones, Former Shuttle Astronaut (pdf)
- Bill Nye the Science Guy, Executive Director of The Planetary Society (pdf)
