Asteroid capture

Asteroid capture can happen when an asteroid approaches a large planetary body. Typically asteroids that approach close to a planet are either thrown out into space or else hit the planet. But occasionally the asteroid is captured in an orbit around the planet. This is possible with any planetary body given the right conditions. Researchers are working on ways for astronauts to capture an asteroid. On June 19, 2014, NASA reported that asteroid 2011 MD was a prime candidate for capture by the Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM), perhaps in the early 2020s.