Indeed, the asteroid's orbit is particularly attractive for spacecraft rendezvous, and the extraordinary close encounter in April 2029 provides a unique opportunity to investigate a number of scientific NEO issues.

The engine would be in orbit, producing a beam of photons. The spacecraft would not have to carry that mass along.

Ask ten engineers for the best orbit for a particular spacecraft and you'll get ten different ideas.

Now the noisy winds are still; April's coming up the hill! All the spring is in her train, Led by shining ranks of rain; Pit, pat, patter, clatter, Sudden sun and clatter patter! . . . . All things ready with a will, April's coming up the hill!

The mood is really very obvious. It's not hard to sense. We all really care about this program. We all work as hard as we can to maintain it. We really do.

Everyone has heard of a diamond in the rough. It's rare to encounter those diamonds and know you are in the presence of goodness. He's a quiet individual ... but when things were hard and hectic and we had hurricane overload, he did his best to assist us.