A New Method of Capturing and Transporting Asteroid to a Lunar Orbit

Abstract

Through multiple, small unmanned probes we can more efficiently capture an asteroid and return it to lunar orbit. The Asteroid Return and Exploration System (ARES) aims to make use of previously tested technology with the application of a new idea to satisfy a goal in the retrieval and the subsequent exploration, classification and data acquisition of an asteroid that is approximately 7 meters in diameter and 350,000 kilograms in mass. Research is conducted according to mathematical analyses of the given data and extrapolated variables.