...is modifying an asteroid's orbit.

However, an analysis of alternative mission ideas was completed last month at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The six ideas are:

· Technology Demonstration Mission to test fission power system in deep space with no specific science goal or destination.

· Lunar Geophysical Orbiter that in extended mission mode could serve as a telecom asset for future lunar missions.

· Next Generation Mars Telecommunications Station.

· Near Earth Object (NEO) Asteroid Mission that would involve stopovers at multiple objects, perhaps landing hardware on a NEO to assess the ability to modify the trajectory of a celestial body.

· Venus Orbiter, more like a Magellan II spacecraft that would carry out low altitude runs over the cloudy planet with state-of-the-art radar.

· Astrophysics Mission that would use high power levels from a fission power source, likely sending collected science information at very high data rates.

In addition to these missions, a Europa Orbiter mission for a 2012 launch, using chemical propulsion, would have the spacecraft energized by radioisotope power system (RPS) technology.

Using a nuke-powered space tugboat to push an asteroid for the flagship mission would rally a lot of public support and help ease the door open for fission reactors in space. Having a defense against asteroids is something millions of people around the world are concerned about. Everyone I mention this possible mission to, including staunch environmentalists, think it's a great idea.

Btw, JIMO isn't dead, just deferred.