Asteroid capture program

Asteroid capture program
General Information
Location	Asteroid belt
Date	2003 (ongoing)
Participants	M-7 Alliance Helios Aerospace
Missions	Kronos mission: Failure, 2 casualties Goldilocks mission: Captured in Martian orbit

The Asteroid capture program is a program by the Mars-7 Alliance and Helios Aerospace to capture and exploit asteroids utilising the specifically designed spacecraft for such missions, Ranger. As of 2003, two capturing missions have taken place, the Kronos mission to capture asteroid XF Kronos, and the Goldilocks mission to capture the asteroid 2003LC.

History

Asteroid XF Kronos

See also: XF Kronos and Kronos capturing mission

On 17 March 2003, the spacecraft Ranger took part in a mission to capture asteroid XF Kronos and bring it into Martian orbit for exploitation. The mission was a joint operation between M-7 and Helios, and was seen as a test for further exploitation, as well as to ensure the growth of Happy Valley as a viable colony. The mission was initially a success, with Soviet cosmonaut Grigory Kuznetsov becoming the first person to set foot on an asteroid, although due to a conversion error by Kirill Semenov's engineering team at Roscosmos, the anchoring points failed, leading to the death of Kuznetsov and Helios worker Tom Parker and the ejection of the asteroid. This disaster led to the suspension of the program.

Asteroid 2003LC

See also: 2003LC and Goldilocks capturing mission

On July 2nd, the Thomas Paine Space Telescope discovered asteroid 2003LC which was believed to have decayed from a Jovian trojan orbit, which would bring it close enough to Mars to capture. Further analysis identified that it was rich in iridium and valued at over $20 trillion. The value and location led to the asteroid to be dubbed "Goldilocks".

Initially, M-7 and Helios planed to capture and mine the asteroid in Martian orbit, although after a summit in Leningrad, it was discovered that this would be too expensive and so the mission was changed to redirect it to Earth's orbit instead. This change in plan was leading to the 2003 Helios strike, as well as Helios CEO Dev Ayesa organising a team to hijack the mission and ensure that Goldilocks was brought into permanent Martian orbit.

Missions

• Kronos capturing mission
• Goldilocks capturing mission

See also

• Space missions