The U.S. space agency NASA wants to fly to an asteroid – but at what exactly? On closer inspection, the number of possible destinations we vanishingly small. Now, a telescope could help, that’s about the Technology retirement.

They are out there somewhere. And they will hit Earth. The question is, at best, when – and how devastating. The explosion of a meteorite on the Russian city of Chelyabinsk million in February, humanity has rudely reminded how dangerous cosmic ghost rider can be. Here, the chunks with a diameter of 15 meters was ridiculously small.

The U.S. space agency Nasa is thinking about it now, to reactivate a currently unused space observatory to search for asteroids. According to NASA employees Lindley Johnson is currently one examines the “Wise” – to take infrared telescope again. It was actually started in 2009 to provide more than two and a half million frames a sky map of unprecedented accuracy. After the official end of the mission was “wise” were then sent even briefly to asteroid search.

The project named “Neowise” found, among other objects near the Earth 134. This ranged from two of the original four sensors onboard, the other had become too hot due to lack of coolant. In February 2011, the search was then stopped completely for lack of money. Since the telescope moves in well closed its orbit 510 kilometers above.

Johnson, who heads the Department of Near Earth Objects at NASA, said now a supervisory body, the re-opening of “Wise” would be a way to enhance the search performance. Up to three additional years, the telescope could probably still running. According to the current draft budget, the Obama administration stood on the hunt for potentially dangerous missiles in the coming budget year, 20 million dollars. According to Lindley Johnson, the reactivation of “Wise” could possibly deny already with this budget.

But the Senate – where Democrats have the final say – and the House – where Republicans have the controls – are at loggerheads over the ever-billion budget of the space agency. And on the question of what to do with this money actually. Said somewhat simplified, the Republicans want with as little money ($ 16.9 billion) to explore the moon and later to Mars – but not an asteroid. The Democrats want to turn to something more funding ($ 18.1 billion), down right there. And then also to Mars.

NASA Deputy Chief praises “overwhelming interest”

A first step is intended to be a robotic mission that could take off from 2017. The plan provides for a comparatively small – capturing asteroids – and still 400 tons. According to a study by the Keck Institute for Space Studies in Pasadena, California, it would cost $ 2.6 billion. Of that, 105 million in the Obama design of NASA’s next budget.

A probe would be on your way to wrap the rock in a sort of giant shopping bag – and send to 2021 due to ion engines aboard on a distant orbit around the moon. There he could be visited about four years later by astronauts – for example, to take samples. Above all, however, so that the astronauts can train for an interplanetary trip to Mars, as NASA.

As part of that ended on Tuesday internal ideas competition, the space agency has already discussed several mission concepts. Have also made ​​their own proposals for asteroid mission at the request of the state space planner 400 company representatives, academics and private individuals. You will now be discussed at a workshop in September on. NASA Deputy Chief Lori Garver ever praised the “overwhelming interest”.

But the planned mission has a fundamental problem: the Americans will have trouble at all to find a suitable destination. The scientific journal “Nature” reported a few days ago from a workshop of the National Academy of Sciences. Among other things, the planetary scientist Jim Bell had complained of Arizona State University in Tempe, that there was “both the scientific community and the public,” doubts related to the planned mission.

NASA asteroid expert Paul Chodas calculated that small enough near the Earth were only 370 of the more than 10,000 asteroids to be captured. That is, their diameter is around ten meters. Of the 370 candidates but only 14 have a suitable orbit. And from this group may be known again only four specimens enough on their surface, and rotation speed. The desired goal is to in fact do not turn more than twice in a minute to themselves – to the approaching robot research lädieren not the same.

For a new search, the experts could be found in the next three to four years, at least 15 new ten-meter asteroids so Chodas. “Wise” could help, as an upgrade of two telescope systems in Hawaii.

[adrotate group=”14″]