Planetary Defense Space System Design, MAE 342, Princeton University Robert Stengel
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1986 DA and 1986 EB: IRON OBJECTS in NEAR-Eakm ORBITS; J.C
LPSC XVIII 349 1986 DA AND 1986 EB: IRON OBJECTS IN NEAR-EAKm ORBITS; J.C. Gra- die, Planetary Geosciences Division, Hawaii Institute of Geophysics, University of Hawaii, Bonolalu, HI 96822 and E.F. Tede sco, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA 91109. The estimated 1,500 asteroids, with diameters larger than a few hun- dred meters, which cross or closely approach the Earth' s orbit are divided into three orbital classes: the Aten asteroids with semi-maj or axes less than 1 AU and which cross the Earth's orbit near aphelia, the Apollo asteroids with semi-major axes greater than or equal to 1 AU and with per- ihelia greater than 1.17 AU, and the Amor asteroids with perihelia between 1.17 and 1.3 AU (1). These asteroids which have orbits stable against col- 8 lision with or ejection by a planet on the order of lo7 to 10 years must be derived from either extinct cometary naclei (2) or the asteroid belt (C f. 1). These near-Earth asteroids are important for several diverse reasons: they represent a group of obj ect s from which at least some of the meteor- ites arc derived, they may harbor extinct cometary nuclei thought to con- tain some of the most primitive and, perhaps, pristine material in the solar system, occasionally collide with the Earth, and are among the most accessible objects in the solar system. Study of the physical properties of the Earth-approaching asteroids is constrained by the generally long time between close approaches and poorly known orbits. -
Cross-References ASTEROID IMPACT Definition and Introduction History of Impact Cratering Studies
18 ASTEROID IMPACT Tedesco, E. F., Noah, P. V., Noah, M., and Price, S. D., 2002. The identification and confirmation of impact structures on supplemental IRAS minor planet survey. The Astronomical Earth were developed: (a) crater morphology, (b) geo- 123 – Journal, , 1056 1085. physical anomalies, (c) evidence for shock metamor- Tholen, D. J., and Barucci, M. A., 1989. Asteroid taxonomy. In Binzel, R. P., Gehrels, T., and Matthews, M. S. (eds.), phism, and (d) the presence of meteorites or geochemical Asteroids II. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, pp. 298–315. evidence for traces of the meteoritic projectile – of which Yeomans, D., and Baalke, R., 2009. Near Earth Object Program. only (c) and (d) can provide confirming evidence. Remote Available from World Wide Web: http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/ sensing, including morphological observations, as well programs. as geophysical studies, cannot provide confirming evi- dence – which requires the study of actual rock samples. Cross-references Impacts influenced the geological and biological evolu- tion of our own planet; the best known example is the link Albedo between the 200-km-diameter Chicxulub impact structure Asteroid Impact Asteroid Impact Mitigation in Mexico and the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary. Under- Asteroid Impact Prediction standing impact structures, their formation processes, Torino Scale and their consequences should be of interest not only to Earth and planetary scientists, but also to society in general. ASTEROID IMPACT History of impact cratering studies In the geological sciences, it has only recently been recog- Christian Koeberl nized how important the process of impact cratering is on Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria a planetary scale. -
Using a Nuclear Explosive Device for Planetary Defense Against an Incoming Asteroid
Georgetown University Law Center Scholarship @ GEORGETOWN LAW 2019 Exoatmospheric Plowshares: Using a Nuclear Explosive Device for Planetary Defense Against an Incoming Asteroid David A. Koplow Georgetown University Law Center, [email protected] This paper can be downloaded free of charge from: https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/2197 https://ssrn.com/abstract=3229382 UCLA Journal of International Law & Foreign Affairs, Spring 2019, Issue 1, 76. This open-access article is brought to you by the Georgetown Law Library. Posted with permission of the author. Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub Part of the Air and Space Law Commons, International Law Commons, Law and Philosophy Commons, and the National Security Law Commons EXOATMOSPHERIC PLOWSHARES: USING A NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVE DEVICE FOR PLANETARY DEFENSE AGAINST AN INCOMING ASTEROID DavidA. Koplow* "They shall bear their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks" Isaiah 2:4 ABSTRACT What should be done if we suddenly discover a large asteroid on a collision course with Earth? The consequences of an impact could be enormous-scientists believe thatsuch a strike 60 million years ago led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, and something ofsimilar magnitude could happen again. Although no such extraterrestrialthreat now looms on the horizon, astronomers concede that they cannot detect all the potentially hazardous * Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center. The author gratefully acknowledges the valuable comments from the following experts, colleagues and friends who reviewed prior drafts of this manuscript: Hope M. Babcock, Michael R. Cannon, Pierce Corden, Thomas Graham, Jr., Henry R. Hertzfeld, Edward M. -
NASA Chat: Asteroid 1998 QE2 to Sail Past Earth Expert Dr. Bill Cooke May 30, 2013 ______
NASA Chat: Asteroid 1998 QE2 to Sail Past Earth Expert Dr. Bill Cooke May 30, 2013 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Moderator_Brooke: Welcome everyone! We're just about to start the chat, so please go ahead and send in your questions. Thanks for being here -- now let's talk asteroids! RSEW: Hello Bill_Cooke: We're here! Do you have a question? Moderator_Brooke: All right, here we go...Bill, over to you. tyler_hussey : I was wondering if people in New Hampshire will be able to view this asteroid pass by, and if so, what is the length it will be visible, what direction, and how close to the horizon? Bill_Cooke; Hi Tyler. You need a telescope to see the QE2 asteroid, and of course, it needs to be dark. It's visible there in N.H. with a small telescope about 10:30 p.m. local time. It will be in the constellation Hydra and be about eleventh magnitude. tyler_hussey: I was wondering if people in New Hampshire will be able to view this asteroid pass by, and if so, what is the length it will be visible, what direction, and how close to the horizon? Bill_Cooke: Unless you are Asia or Europe, you will not be able to see the asteroid at close approach. However, you can see it tonight around 10:30 pm local time with a small telescope. It will be in the constellation of Hydra. Moderator_Brooke: You can also find more information about QE2 at this link: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/asteroids/news/asteroid20130530.html guest100: where did this asteroid come from Bill_Cooke: The asteroid 1998 QE2 is an amor asteroid which means it approaches Earth from the outside. -
1. Some of the Definitions of the Different Types of Objects in the Solar
1. Some of the definitions of the different types of objects in has the greatest orbital inclination (orbit at the the solar system overlap. Which one of the greatest angle to that of Earth)? following pairs does not overlap? That is, if an A) Mercury object can be described by one of the labels, it B) Mars cannot be described by the other. C) Jupiter A) dwarf planet and asteroid D) Pluto B) dwarf planet and Kuiper belt object C) satellite and Kuiper belt object D) meteoroid and planet 10. Of the following objects in the solar system, which one has the greatest orbital eccentricity and therefore the most elliptical orbit? 2. Which one of the following is a small solar system body? A) Mercury A) Rhea, a moon of Saturn B) Mars B) Pluto C) Earth C) Ceres (an asteroid) D) Pluto D) Mathilde (an asteroid) 11. What is the largest moon of the dwarf planet Pluto 3. Which of the following objects was discovered in the called? twentieth century? A) Chiron A) Pluto B) Callisto B) Uranus C) Charon C) Neptune D) Triton D) Ceres 12. If you were standing on Pluto, how often would you see 4. Pluto was discovered in the satellite Charon rise above the horizon each A) 1930. day? B) 1846. A) once each 6-hour day as Pluto rotates on its axis C) 1609. B) twice each 6-hour day because Charon is in a retrograde D) 1781. orbit C) once every 2 days because Charon orbits in the same direction Pluto rotates but more slowly 5. -
The Tumbling Spin State of (99942) Apophis
The tumbling spin state of (99942) Apophis P. Pravec a, P. Scheirich a, J. Durechˇ b, J. Pollock c, P. Kuˇsnir´ak a, K. Hornoch a, A. Gal´ad a, D. Vokrouhlick´y b, A.W. Harris d, E. Jehin e, J. Manfroid e, C. Opitom e, M. Gillon e, F. Colas g, J. Oey h, J. Vraˇstil a,b, D. Reichart f, K. Ivarsen f, J. Haislip f, A. LaCluyze f aAstronomical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Friˇcova 1, CZ-25165 Ondˇrejov, Czech Republic bInstitute of Astronomy, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague, V Holeˇsoviˇck´ach 2, CZ-18000 Prague 8, Czech Republic cPhysics and Astronomy Department, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, U.S.A. dMoreData! Inc., 4603 Orange Knoll Avenue, La Ca˜nada, CA 91011, U.S.A. eInstitut d’Astrophysique de l’Universit´ede Li`ege, Alle du 6 Aout 17, B-4000 Li`ege, Belgium f Physics and Astronomy Department, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, U.S.A. gIMCCE-CNRS-Observatoire de Paris, 77 avenue Denfert Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France hLeura Observatory, Leura, N.S.W., Australia 2014 January 22 Preprint submitted to Elsevier 22 January 2014 Proposed running head: Apophis tumbling Editorial correspondence to: Dr. Petr Pravec Astronomical Institute AS CR Friˇcova 1 Ondˇrejov CZ-25165 Czech Republic Phone: 00420-323-620352 Fax: 00420-323-620263 E-mail address: [email protected] 2 Abstract Our photometric observations of asteroid (99942) Apophis from December 2012 to April 2013 revealed it to be in a state of non-principal axis rotation (tumbling). -
Negotiating Uncertainty: Asteroids, Risk and the Media Felicity Mellor
Accepted pre-publication version Published at: Public Understanding of Science 19(1): (2010) 16-33. Negotiating Uncertainty: Asteroids, Risk and the Media Felicity Mellor ABSTRACT Natural scientists often appear in the news media as key actors in the management of risk. This paper examines the way in which a small group of astronomers and planetary scientists have constructed asteroids as risky objects and have attempted to control the media representation of the issue. It shows how scientists negotiate the uncertainties inherent in claims about distant objects and future events by drawing on quantitative risk assessments even when these are inapplicable or misleading. Although the asteroid scientists worry that media coverage undermines their authority, journalists typically accept the scientists’ framing of the issue. The asteroid impact threat reveals the implicit assumptions which can shape natural scientists’ public discourse and the tensions which arise when scientists’ quantitative uncertainty claims are re-presented in the news media. Keywords: asteroids, impact threat, astronomy, risk, uncertainty, science journalism, media, science news Introduction Over the past two decades, British newspapers have periodically announced the end of the world. Playful headlines such as “The End is Nigh” and “Armageddon Outta Here!” are followed a few days later by reports that there’s no danger after all: “PHEW. The end of the world has been cancelled” (Britten, 1998; Wickham, 2002; Evening Standard , 1998). These stories, and others like them appearing in news media around the world, deal with the possibility that an asteroid or comet may one day collide with the Earth causing global destruction. The threat posed by near-Earth objects (NEOs) has been actively promoted by a group of astronomers and planetary scientists since the late 1980s. -
Jjmonl 1710.Pmd
alactic Observer John J. McCarthy Observatory G Volume 10, No. 10 October 2017 The Last Waltz Cassini’s final mission and dance of death with Saturn more on page 4 and 20 The John J. McCarthy Observatory Galactic Observer New Milford High School Editorial Committee 388 Danbury Road Managing Editor New Milford, CT 06776 Bill Cloutier Phone/Voice: (860) 210-4117 Production & Design Phone/Fax: (860) 354-1595 www.mccarthyobservatory.org Allan Ostergren Website Development JJMO Staff Marc Polansky Technical Support It is through their efforts that the McCarthy Observatory Bob Lambert has established itself as a significant educational and recreational resource within the western Connecticut Dr. Parker Moreland community. Steve Barone Jim Johnstone Colin Campbell Carly KleinStern Dennis Cartolano Bob Lambert Route Mike Chiarella Roger Moore Jeff Chodak Parker Moreland, PhD Bill Cloutier Allan Ostergren Doug Delisle Marc Polansky Cecilia Detrich Joe Privitera Dirk Feather Monty Robson Randy Fender Don Ross Louise Gagnon Gene Schilling John Gebauer Katie Shusdock Elaine Green Paul Woodell Tina Hartzell Amy Ziffer In This Issue INTERNATIONAL OBSERVE THE MOON NIGHT ...................... 4 SOLAR ACTIVITY ........................................................... 19 MONTE APENNINES AND APOLLO 15 .................................. 5 COMMONLY USED TERMS ............................................... 19 FAREWELL TO RING WORLD ............................................ 5 FRONT PAGE ............................................................... -
Dealing with the Threat of an Asteroid Striking the Earth
Dealing with the Threat of an Asteroid Striking the Earth An AIAA Position Paper April 1990 This paper originated in the AIAA Space Systems Technical Committee and was Approved by the AIAA Board of Directors American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 1801 Alexander Bell Drive Reston, VA 20191 703/264-7500 SUMMARY Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of asteroids travel in orbits that intersect the Earth’s orbit. Some have struck the Earth in the past, leaving large craters. Others have come very close, one as recently as March 23, 1989 (Apollo Asteroid 1989FC, estimated to be a fifth to a half mile in diameter). Such an object, if it struck the Earth today, could cause a disaster of unprecedented proportions. Although the probability of such an occurrence is very small, its consequences (i.e., the casualty rate) could be enormous. The risk to Earth’s inhabitants is therefore finite, warranting action to improve and expand our ability to detect Earth- orbit-crossing objects and to analyze and predict their orbits. It would also be useful to explore methods and technologies for deflecting or destroying any such objects that are predicted to impact the Earth and to alter their orbits sufficiently to preclude impact. To begin the process of implementing such action, appropriate experts, both civil and military, should be tasked to formulate specific programs designed to address the issues involved. INTRODUCTION On March 23, 1989, an asteroid bigger than an aircraft carrier, traveling at 46,000 miles per hour, passed through Earth's orbit less than 400,000 miles away. Our planet had been at that point only six hours earlier. -
Revised Asteroid Scale Aids Understanding of Impact Risk 12 April 2005
Revised asteroid scale aids understanding of impact risk 12 April 2005 Astronomers led by an MIT professor have revised object is almost always likely to reduce the hazard the scale used to assess the threat of asteroids level to 0, once sufficient data are obtained." The and comets colliding with Earth to better general process of classifying NEO hazards is communicate those risks with the public. roughly analogous to hurricane forecasting. The overall goal is to provide easy-to-understand Predictions of a storm's path are updated as more information to assuage concerns about a potential and more tracking data are collected. doomsday collision with our planet. The Torino scale, a risk-assessment system similar According to Dr. Donald K. Yeomans, manager of to the Richter scale used for earthquakes, was NASA's Near Earth Object Program Office, "The adopted by a working group of the International revisions in the Torino Scale should go a long way Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1999 at a meeting in toward assuring the public that while we cannot Torino, Italy. On the scale, zero means virtually no always immediately rule out Earth impacts for chance of collision, while 10 means certain global recently discovered near-Earth objects, additional catastrophe. observations will almost certainly allow us to do so." "The idea was to create a simple system The highest Torino level ever given an asteroid was conveying clear, consistent information about near- a 4 last December, with a 2 percent chance of Earth objects [NEOs]," or asteroids and comets hitting Earth in 2029. And after extended tracking of that appear to be heading toward the planet, said the asteroid's orbit, it was reclassified to level 0, Richard Binzel, a professor in MIT's Department of effectively no chance of collision, "the outcome Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences and correctly emphasized by level 4 as being most the creator of the scale. -
Head-On Impact Deflection of Neas: a Case Study for 99942 Apophis
Planetary Defense Conference 2007, Wahington D.C., USA, 05-08 March 2007 (c) 2007 by the authors Head-On Impact Deflection of NEAs: A Case Study for 99942 Apophis Bernd Dachwald∗ and Ralph Kahle† German Aerospace Center (DLR), 82234 Wessling, Germany Bong Wie‡ Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA Near-Earth asteroid (NEA) 99942 Apophis provides a typical example for the evolution of asteroid orbits that lead to Earth-impacts after a close Earth-encounter that results in a resonant return. Apophis will have a close Earth-encounter in 2029 with potential very close subsequent Earth-encounters (or even an impact) in 2036 or later, depending on whether it passes through one of several less than 1 km-sized gravitational keyholes during its 2029- encounter. A pre-2029 kinetic impact is a very favorable option to nudge the asteroid out of a keyhole. The highest impact velocity and thus deflection can be achieved from a trajectory that is retrograde to Apophis orbit. With a chemical or electric propulsion system, however, many gravity assists and thus a long time is required to achieve this. We show in this paper that the solar sail might be the better propulsion system for such a mission: a solar sail Kinetic Energy Impactor (KEI) spacecraft could impact Apophis from a retrograde trajectory with a very high relative velocity (75-80 km/s) during one of its perihelion passages. The spacecraft consists of a 160 m × 160 m, 168 kg solar sail assembly and a 150 kg impactor. Although conventional spacecraft can also achieve the required minimum deflection of 1 km for this approx. -
O Lunar and Planetary Institute a Provided by the NASA
SEARCHING FOR COMET CORES AMONG APOLLO/AMOR ASTEROIDS. C. A. Wood, SN4INASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058 Other than occasional comets, Apollo and hor asteroids (AIA) approach the Earth more closely than any other celestial bodies, and hence are likely contributors to the flux of meteorites. Be- cause dynamic lifetimes of A/A objects are only lo7-lo8 years they must be continually resupplied from a longer-lived source. Orbital dynamical considerations appear to dictate that comets mst supply the majority of A/A1s, but, assuming that meteorites do come from A/A1s, current models of meteorite origins preclude this possibility. This standoff, between theories and models, has con- tinued for nearly 30 years, but sufficient data on A/A objects themselves are now available to con- sider the likelihood of a canetary or asteroidal origin for individual Earth-approaching objects. How to Identify Cometary Cores: Based upon previous discussions, extinct comets in A/A orbits are likely to be distinguishable from objects which escaped from the main asteroid belt by both physical and orbital characteristics (e.g., 1). Shape: Anders (2) argued that small objects such as Icarus (dia -1 km) could not maintain spherical shapes against collisional destruction if they had spent most of the last 4.5 b.y. in the asteroid belt. Collisional fragmentation would be much less likely in the Oort cloud, thus spheric- ity can be interpreted as evidence for a cometary origin of A/A objects. This criteria ignores the splitting of comets, which has only been observed in three shortperiod comets (13).