NEO
A near-Earth object is a Solar System object whose orbit brings it into proximity with Earth. All NEOs have a closest approach to the Sun of less than 1.3 AU.
Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) are comets and asteroids that have been nudged by the gravitational attraction of nearby planets into orbits that allow them to enter the Earth's neighborhood.
The subject of NEOs has developed a much wider interest among the public when a 20 meter asteroid exploded near Chelyabinsk, Russia on Feb. 15, 2013, causing millions of dollars of damage and injuring 1,500 people. (SEE NASA report )
The Chelyabinsk impact occurred on the same day that a 100-foot-wide (30 m) space rock called 2012 DA14 cruised within 17,200 miles (27,000 km) of Earth, coming closer than many communications satellites circling our planet.
Missions
Can instruments be placed onto NEO?
Could a rocket be sent to an asteroid and leave a radio beacon? would this be an interesting way to do science by hitching a ride on an asteroid?