Imagine if. . .

We could capture one of those rare iron/nickle asteroids and guide it into orbit around the Moon.


Why the Moon?  Let's not risk the off chance of a missed orbit around our home Earth and a global disaster.


Why the rare iron/nickle asteroid?  In recovering the bounty of metals and chemicals, an even more valuable orbital resource will be gained - real estate.  Tunnels and chambers left from mining would be converted to living space for the next generation of astronauts.


And why the asteroid at all?  Right now it costs  something like $50,000/lb to put stuff into orbit.  In addition to the huge cost, there are extreme limitations to how much can go up at a time.


The International Space Station took 10 years and many billions of dollars so far, and remains incomplete.  Having all that structural material already in orbit will allow the next space station to be much larger, MUCH cheaper, and to actually get finished.


This isn't impossible science fiction rambling.  NASA recently landed a craft on an asteroid for extended research purposes.  It would take little more effort to include a thorium powered ion engine on the next asteroid lander and begin using space resources to advance Man's presence in orbit.


The question is, then, what will be the color scheme on that next space station: Uncle Sam red, white, and blue, or Shushu Mao yellow and red?