[GonzoGOP]

If we had a space program that actually did things in space instead of Muslim outreach this would be a fantastic target. A lot closer than the Asteroid belt so you don't need a lot of delta V to make the rendezvous. Stable, non inclined orbit. Close enough to the sun that you can use Solar rather than NTG. And at 300 meters big enough to explore, but not so large that you need to worry about the liftoff. Just cut the anchor cable and drift away.

Of course you would need to have a budget and a man rated rocket, and the US has neither at the moment. I wonder if Richard Branson wants an asteroid? Of course I always figured he was more likely to go for Vesta.

[cripplecreek]

I wonder if Richard Branson wants an asteroid?

I'm afraid Richard Branson can't have an asteroid.

The res communis doctrine resounds most prominently when dealing with property ownership rights in outer space. The Outer Space Treaty not only forbids claiming of territory by nations, but its child, the Moon Treaty, attempts to extend that prohibition to private legal entities also. Although the United States is not a signatory to the Moon Treaty, it has not taken open actions to actually refute its legal viability. The result is that the Moon Treaty and its res communis doctrine has slowly crept into the realm of accepted international law.

It’s time to rethink international space law

"What prudent merchant will hazard his fortunes in any new branch of commerce when he knows not that his plans may be rendered unlawful before they can be executed?"

-James Monroe