Russia eyes joining NASA asteroid program
Updated: 2013-04-06 14:31
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||||
MOSCOW - Russia's federal space agency Roscosmos mulled over joining an asteroid defense program with the US NASA, the agency's head Vladimir Popovkin has said.
The program is aimed at capturing an asteroid and putting it into high lunar orbit for exploration, Popovkin told Rossiiskaya Gazeta newspaper in an interview on Friday.
"We could send a manned expedition to explore the asteroid or study it with probes," Popovkin said.
According to the US-based Keck Institute for Space Studies, the asteroid mission could cost about $2.65 billion in total. Space specialists may capture the targeted asteroid and tow it to the lunar orbit in a giant draw-string bag.
Meanwhile, the Roscosmos chief suggested Russia build an efficient unified system to monitor asteroids and other "space invaders" that could pose potential threat to the Earth.
Currently, Russia has three systems monitoring and forecasting the asteroid danger - one at the Defense Ministry, another at the Russian Academy of Sciences and the third at Roscosmos, Popovkin said.
He called for joint efforts from various countries, as asteroids are dangerous for the entire Earth, not just one country.
"We will be able to protect ourselves only if we work together, " he said.
Related Stories
NASA releases photos of Jupiter explorer mission 2013-02-22 10:28
NASA's telescope discovers tiny planet system 2013-02-21 10:24
NASA to boost meteor defense 2013-02-20 09:05
NASA loses regular communication with ISS 2013-02-20 04:55
NASA launches new earth observation satellite 2013-02-12 09:51
Today's Top News
Police continue manhunt for 2nd bombing suspect
H7N9 flu transmission studied
8% growth predicted for Q2
Nuke reactor gets foreign contract
First couple on Time's list of most influential
'Green' awareness levels drop in Beijing
Palace Museum spruces up
Trading channels 'need to broaden'
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Liaoning: China's oceangoing giant |
Poultry industry under pressure |
'Spring' in the air for NGOs? |
Boy set to drive Chinese golf |
Latest technology gets people talking |
Firms crave cyber connection |