Asteroid Exploration News Today

Key trends revolve around space resource utilization missions, space based solar power, asteroid exploration, and in-space manufacturing.

Eight new astronaut trainees will help NASA study an asteroid and Mars. NASA has eight space trainees who will train in space facilities and remote locations for missions to Mars, asteroids, and low-Earth orbit.

MIT aerospace engineers are testing a concept for a hovering rover that levitates by harnessing the moon’s natural charge. The design uses tiny ion beams to charge up the vehicle and the surface underneath, with little power needed. Such an ion boost could be strong enough to levitate a 2-pound vehicle on the moon and large asteroids.

During its 12-year primary mission, Lucy will explore a record-breaking number of asteroids, including a flyby of one asteroid in the solar system`s main belt and seven Trojan asteroids near Jupiter.