Different research options could require specific resources, or take a period of time to complete.
Could have more than one level of research for some options, with further improvement to that technology's benefit.
Telescopes or satellites could provide some probe-like details for free (possibly only when the asteroid is in orbit in a certain range, if e.g a telescope has some finite field of view), detect more asteroids in orbit, etc
Different research options could require specific resources, or take a period of time to complete. Could have more than one level of research for some options, with further improvement to that technology's benefit. Telescopes or satellites could provide some probe-like details for free (possibly only when the asteroid is in orbit in a certain range, if e.g a telescope has some finite field of view), detect more asteroids in orbit, etc