The space agency Nasa is coaching a group of astronauts to land on asteroids after a three million mile journey – dwarfing the mere 239,000 miles travelled to the moon.

The mission, planned for the next decade, would land on an asteroid travelling at much more than 50,000 miles an hour. The astronauts will drive cars on the surface – and pick up capabilities essential to destroy ‘planet killer’ asteroids that may possibly approach our planet in future.

Landing on a 50,000mph asteroid: The astronauts will drive cars on the surface – and choose up abilities required to destroy ‘planet killer’ asteroids that could approach our planet in long term

‘If one thing is spotted late and is huge ample we may well come into Armageddon variety situations where we could have to look at manned missions to deflect it.’

Specifics of the mission had been revealed by Significant Tim Peake, a former British Army helicopter pilot, and the first official British astronaut with the European Space Agency.

The journey to the asteroid and back could take up to a YEAR. Peake and five other astronauts will put together for the low-gravity environment of the asteroid by investing twelve days in an underwater base off the coast of Florida, 65 feet beneath the Atlantic.

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Scientists turn to Alaska over fears active fault-line could trigger Japan-style tsunami that could devastate California and Hawaii They will reside in a capsule 43 feet extended by 20 feet wide to simulate the cramped problems on an asteroid.

In an interview in the Telegraph, Significant Peake stated: ‘With the technology we have accessible and are developing today, an asteroid mission of up to a year is definitely achievable.

‘These objects are also coming really close to Earth all the time, but we rarely hear about it. In the last year we had an asteroid come inside of Earth’s geostationary orbit, which is closer than some satellites.’

Peake and five other astronauts will put together for the low-gravity environment of the asteroid by investing twelve days in an underwater base off the coast of Florida, 65 feet beneath the Atlantic

‘With sufficient warning we would most likely send a robotic mission to deflect an asteroid, but if some thing is spotted late and is big adequate we may come into Armageddon kind scenarios wherever we might have to look at manned missions to deflect it.’

Peak stated, ‘Iwould adore to go on an asteroid mission. There is a possibility that if factors continue at a good pace an asteroid mission could take place within the 2020s and that is within the operational time frame of myself and the other ESA astronauts.’

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Sources and more information:

• Is this Nasa’s most daring mission yet? Astronauts to land on asteroid three million miles from Earth – and stay for a MONTH

The space agency Nasa is training a team of astronauts to land on asteroids after a three million mile journey – dwarfing the mere 239,000 miles travelled to the moon. The mission, planned for the next decade, would land on an asteroid travelling at more than 50,000 miles an hour. The astronauts will drive vehicles on the surface – and pick up…

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