Closer encounter: Nasa plans landing on 40m-wide asteroid
“A report seen by the Guardian notes that by sending astronauts on a three-month journey to the hurtling asteroid, scientists believe they would learn more about the psychological effects of long-term missions and the risks of working in deep space, and it would allow astronauts to test kits to convert subsurface ice into drinking water, breathable oxygen and even hydrogen to top up rocket fuel. All of which would be invaluable before embarking on a two-year expedition to Mars.”
Found by LBA (thanks!) who says:
…which in an of itself is pretty cool, using kits to convert deep space ice to drinkable water and breathable oxygen… but what microbes and bacteria may be in that deep space water hibernating, waiting for a nice, warm, meaty host to latch onto. (cue another zombie apocalypse story, because we really can’t have enough of them).Also, if one were to put on their tinfoil hat, maybe, just maybe this object is on a crash course with earth and this is the first step towards sending a mission to knock it off it’s current collision course. Also we don’t need another Bruce Willis movie with a bad Aerosmith soundtrack to be made.
