TransAstra is conducting a privately-funded study to assess the technical feasibility of moving a 100-metric-ton asteroid into a stable near-Earth orbit. The mission would establish the asteroid as a robotic research outpost for materials processing and manufacturing operations in space, according to company CEO Joel Sercel.
The study is being funded by a combination of investors and customers, though specific technical details about the proposed capture and relocation method have not been disclosed. The project would involve developing capabilities to intercept, secure, and transport the asteroid to a predetermined orbit within the Earth-moon system.