"Gravity tractor" could deflect asteroids
Posted: Sat, Nov 12, 2005, 9:29 AM ET (1429 GMT)
The miniscule but sustained gravitational attraction between a spacecraft and an asteroid could be sufficient over time to deflect that asteroid from an Earth-threatening trajectory, according to research by two NASA astronauts. In a paper published in the current issue of the journal Nature, astronauts Ed Lu and Stanley Love described how a 20-ton spacecraft, hovering over the surface of an asteroid, would gradually deflect the asteroid's trajectory over time because of the faint gravitational force imparted on the asteroid by the spacecraft. Such a system could deflect a 200-meter asteroid from an Earth-crossing trajectory in about a year, provided there was advance warning of about 20 years. This approach is considered better than attempting to use nuclear weapons to deflect asteroids, as recent research has indicated that many asteroids may be loosely-bound agglomerations of rock, and could shatter from the force of an explosion.
The miniscule but sustained gravitational attraction between a spacecraft and an asteroid could be sufficient over time to deflect that asteroid from an Earth-threatening trajectory, according to research by two NASA astronauts. In a paper published in the current issue of the journal Nature, astronauts Ed Lu and Stanley Love described how a 20-ton spacecraft, hovering over the surface of an asteroid, would gradually deflect the asteroid's trajectory over time because of the faint gravitational force imparted on the asteroid by the spacecraft. Such a system could deflect a 200-meter asteroid from an Earth-crossing trajectory in about a year, provided there was advance warning of about 20 years. This approach is considered better than attempting to use nuclear weapons to deflect asteroids, as recent research has indicated that many asteroids may be loosely-bound agglomerations of rock, and could shatter from the force of an explosion.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, May 1
Firefly Aerospace's first stage explodes before satellite's deployment
UPI — 6:45 am ET (1045 GMT) Firefly Alpha Rocket Grounded After In-Flight Anomaly
Flying — 6:45 am ET (1045 GMT) Space Ops: First Kuiper Launch Down, 79 To Go
Aviation Week — 6:43 am ET (1043 GMT) SpaceX loses bid to win control of Texas public beach, highway
San Antonio Express-News — 6:40 am ET (1040 GMT) Starbase: SpaceX company town poised to be Texas' newest city
San Antonio Express-News — 6:39 am ET (1039 GMT) |
