[FPSPACE] Manned missions to NEOs before Mars - and even the Moon?

[LARRY KLAES]

NASA Insiders Propose Stepping Stone Path to Deep Space

By Leonard David

Special Correspondent, SPACE.com

posted: 30 July 2007

01:07 pm ET

Full article here:

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/070730_asteroid_probe.html

To quote:

Internal looks by a small group of NASA "NEOphytes" have projected that a 
human trek to one of those mini-worlds may involve two or three astronauts 
on a 90 to 120-day spaceflight, including a week or two week stay at the 
appointed asteroid.

Dispatching astronauts to a NEO is a sensible idea, said Harrison Schmitt, 
Apollo 17 astronaut, geologist and current chair of the NASA Advisory 
Council (NAC).

In fact, the Exploration and Space Operations subcommittees of the NAC were 
briefed July 18 by NEO study team members from the NASA Johnson Space 
Center, although there has been no Council action on the topic.

Schmitt told SPACE.com: "I think examination of a NEO mission and the 
development of the stand-by monitoring systems, plans, protocols and 
procedures for the diversion of a potentially Earth-impacting asteroid would 
be very prudent activity for the U.S. to undertake."

Additionally, Schmitt said that a NEO mission would be a potentially 
important demonstration of the versatility and capability of the 
Constellation systems and a "gap-filler" before any Mars landing mission.

"So far, the arguments for asteroid science and resources are interesting, 
but not well-developed or potentially as historically or politically 
persuasive as a demonstration of long-term Earth defense," Schmitt said.