article_snippet: the moon, becoming a destination to prepare for future .
article_snippet: later by a human expedition to the space rock, a modification of .
article_snippet: It will then be taken to lunar orbit, where It would be studied by astronauts .
article_snippet: when we go to another planetary body,' Nasa .
article_snippet: The mission involves flying a robotic spacecraft, powered by .
article_snippet: the moon, a maneuver expected to take about six years.
article_snippet: A number of new spaceflight capabilities will be tested in the 2020s as part of the mission, which will involve redirecting an asteroid to orbit the moon and sending humans to explore the moon.
article_snippet: Within the papers, authors explain the current work taking place across the country to examine options for these robotic and crewed missions.
article_snippet: Arm crewed mission, in which astronauts will explore the redirected asteroid around our moon, provides unique opportunities to test human spaceflight capabilities as well.
article_snippet: Concepts for new hardware to dock the crewed and uncrewed spacecraft together are also in development.
article_snippet: This could be later used to connect Orion with a deep space habitat or 'stepping stone' on This way to Mars, or even station cargo and fuel depots in strategic places such as lunar orbit.
article_snippet: This early experience with raw materials could also help advance Nasa ability to make use of natural resources in space.
highlights_snippet: Will test new technologies needed for an eventual mission to Mars .