ACEIZE Tracking the current state of Science and Technology

Plans for a manned mission to an asteroid are being assembled. The planning brings together Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Human Spaceflight Plans Committee, and the Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG). Lockheed has the contract to produce the Orion space vessels. The crux of the plan is to use Lockheed's Orion vessel to travel to a Near Earth Body (NEO).

The proposed benefit of an asteroid mission is to 'build confidence' in long duration missions to Mars or the Moon. AKA, it's being billed as sort of a stepping stone for larger projects. Hence the name, I suppose. The proposed mission will be to have a vessel travel to a NEO where the vessel will 'park' for around 5 days. Astronauts will jet pack to the surface of the asteroid where they will unload scientific equipment and take samples.