NASA/TM-2005-213758 Comet/Asteroid Protection System (CAPS): Preliminary Space-Based System Concept and Study Results Daniel D. Mazanek, Carlos M. Roithmayr, and Jeffrey Antol Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia Sang-Young Park, Robert H. Koons, and James C. Bremer Swales Aerospace, Inc., Hampton, Virginia Douglas G. Murphy, James A. Hoffman, Renjith R. Kumar, and Hans Seywald Analytical Mechanics Associates, Inc., Hampton, Virginia Linda Kay-Bunnell and Martin R. Werner Joint Institute for Advancement of Flight Sciences (JIAFS) The George Washington University, Hampton, Virginia Matthew A. Hausman Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research The University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado Jana L. Stockum San Diego State University, San Diego, California May 2005 The NASA STI Program Office . in Profile Since its founding, NASA has been dedicated to the • CONFERENCE PUBLICATION. Collected advancement of aeronautics and space science. 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Kumar, and Hans Seywald Analytical Mechanics Associates, Inc., Hampton, Virginia Linda Kay-Bunnell and Martin R. Werner Joint Institute for Advancement of Flight Sciences (JIAFS) The George Washington University, Hampton, Virginia Matthew A. Hausman Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research The University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado Jana L. Stockum San Diego State University, San Diego, California National Aeronautics and Space Administration Langley Research Center Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199 May 2005 The use of trademarks or names of manufacturers in the report is for accurate reporting and does not constitute an official endorsement, either expressed or implied, of such products or manufacturers by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Available from: NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI) National Technical Information Service (NTIS) 7121 Standard Drive 5285 Port Royal Road Hanover, MD 21076-1320 Springfield, VA 22161-2171 (301) 621-0390 (703) 605-6000 Contents Acknowledgments ............................................................. v Foreword ................................................................... vii Comet/Asteroid Protection System: Concept Study Executive Summary Daniel D. Mazanek ........................................................... 1 Near-Earth Object (NEO) Hazard Background Daniel D. Mazanek ......................................................... 11 Accurate Determination of Comet and Asteroid Orbits Leading to Collision With Earth Carlos M. Roithmayr, Linda Kay-Bunnell, Daniel D. Mazanek, Renjith R. Kumar, Hans Seywald, and Matthew A. Hausman ......................................... 26 Detection Element Concepts—Initial Design Robert H. Koons and James C. Bremer ........................................... 79 Near-Earth Object Astrometric Interferometry Martin R. Werner ......................................................... 102 Mission Functionality for Deflecting Earth-Crossing Asteroids/Comets Sang-Young Park and Daniel D. Mazanek ........................................ 121 Orbit Modification of Earth-Crossing Asteroids/Comets Using Rendezvous Spacecraft and Laser Ablation Sang-Young Park and Daniel D. Mazanek ....................................... 148 CAPS Simulation Environment Development Douglas G. Murphy and James A. Hoffman ....................................... 163 Comparison of Detector Technologies for CAPS Jana L. Stockum .......................................................... 193 Survey of Enabling Technologies for CAPS Jeffrey Antol, Daniel D. Mazanek, and Robert H. Koons .............................. 202 Chapter Notes: Nomenclature ................................................... 217 iii iv Acknowledgments The Comet/Asteroid Protection System (CAPS) conceptual study described herein was conducted as part of the NASA Revolutionary Aerospace System Concepts Program managed at Langley Research Center. The CAPS study was performed largely between January 2001 and January 2003. The study benefited from the contributions and advice of many individuals who were participants or consulted on various topics during this period. The contributing authors would like to recognize the support and involvement of the following individuals: Langley Research Center Brian J. Boland George G. Ganoe Dr. Stephen J. Katzberg Victor F. Lucas Patrick A. Troutman Marshall Spaceflight Center Dr. Jonathan W. Campbell Analytical Mechanics Associates, Inc. Dr. Scott R. Angster W. Joel Derrick George R. Kline Shawn A. Krizan Frank M. McQuarry Jeffery G. Murch Joshua E. Sams Swales Aerospace, Inc. Christopher V. Strickland Joint Institute for Advancement of Flight Sciences (JIAFS), The George Washington University Dr. Robert H. Tolson Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research, The University of Colorado Dr. George H. Born Dr. R. Steven Nerem Study Leader and Compiler: Daniel D. Mazanek, Langley Research Center Editing and illustration preparation: Denise M. Stefula, Sr. Editor, CLASIC Contract v vi Foreword In recent years, impacts from Earth-crossing asteroids and comets have been identified as a threat that is real and credible. Although infrequent in relation to a human lifetime, devastating impacts have occurred countless times during Earth’s history and will occur again in the future. In 1990, the United States House of Representatives directed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to study the impact problem. NASA organized an international conference and conducted two workshop studies. The first workshop, comprising three formal meetings in 1991, defined a program for dramati- cally increasing the detection rate of large Earth-orbit-crossing asteroids, and established the requirements for determining the orbits of such bodies. The second workshop, in January of 1992, focused on defining systems and technologies to alter the orbits of Earth threatening asteroids, or obliterate them. The major result of these efforts was the establishment of a coordinated ground-based effort, known as the Spaceguard Survey, whose primary goal is to search for large asteroids capable of global devastation. This logical first step has significantly reduced the chances that Earth will be impacted by a large near- Earth asteroid without significant warning time. Just over 2 years later, from July 16 to 22, 1994, the in- habitants of the Earth witnessed the colossal impacts on Jupiter caused by more than 20 fragments of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet. Each impact zone was approximately the size of the entire Earth and provided a timely and vivid illustration of the impact hazard. Although the current efforts make sense under the constraint of present funding levels, concerns have been