NASA’s Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), which is originally planned to ferry astronauts to and from the Moon, could also serve to explore nearby asteroids. While the craft, named Orion, would orbit the object, the crew could land on the surface and perform experiments that will help in the prevention of a potential collision with the Earth.

A Nasa scientist has proposed using the replacement to the space shuttle to land on a near-Earth asteroid.

Source: BBC News