Scientists Want To Nudge Asteroids Toward Earth

On August 4th 2018, a team of scientists announced in the journal Acta Astronautica, that they have devised a method by which asteroids could be brought into Earth orbit for the purpose of mining them. The leader of the team, and PhD student at the University of Glasgow, Minghu Tan, believes that asteroids that are under 30 meters in diameter could be maneuvered into orbit through the process of aerobarking.

Minghu and his colleagues, Colin McInnes and Matteo Ceriotti have theorized that asteroids millions of miles away could be nudged toward the Earth by using an automated spacecraft. The spacecraft would keep the asteroids on accurate trajectories by making course corrections as needed. When an asteroid is close enough the spacecraft would begin the aerobraking process. The asteroid would graze the atmosphere, there by slowing it down to orbital speed.

Once the asteroid has been safely maneuvered into Earth orbit, it could be mined for water and precious metals such as gold and platinum