NASA/TM-2004-213089, Adams, R.B. and Alexander, R. and Bonemetti, J. and Chapman, J. and Fincher, S. and Hopkins, R. and Kalkstein, M. and Polsgrove, T. and Statham, G. and White, S., Survey of Technologies Relevant to Defense From Near-Earth Objects, George C. Marshall Space Flight Center , Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC 20546-0001, July 2004, pp. 222, Format(s): PDF 63581k |
Several recent near-miss encounters with asteroids and comets have focused attention on the threat of a
catastrophic impact with the Earth. This Technical Publication reviews the historical impact record and
current understanding of the number and location of near-Earth objects (NEOs) to address their impact
probability. Various ongoing projects intended to survey and catalog the NEO population are also reviewed.
Details are given of a Marshall Space Flight Center-led study intended to develop and assess various candidate
systems for protection of the Earth against NEOs. Details of analytical tools, trajectory tools, and a
tool that was created to model both the undeflected inbound path of an NEO as well as the modified, postdeflection path are given. A representative selection of these possible options was modeled and evaluated.
It is hoped that this study will raise the level of attention about this very real threat and also demonstrate
that successful defense is both possible and practicable, provided appropriate steps are taken.
| Keywords: | asteroids, comets, near-earth object, bombardment of earth, trajectory modeling tools |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Astronautics: Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance |
| ID Code: | 692 |
| Deposited On: | 24 February 2005 |