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Planetary Defense: Options for Deflection of Near Earth ObjectsIn FY 2002 a team of engineers and scientists at MSFC conducted a preliminary investigation of the options for deflecting a Near Earth Object (NEO) fiom a collision course with the earth. A general discussion of the current threat facing the earth from NEO s is outlined. A suite of tools were developed to model inbound and outbound trajectories, propulsive options, and assessment of threat. Propulsive options considered included; staged chemical, nuclear ablation and deflagration, mass driver and solar sail concepts. Trajectory tools plotted the outbound course to intercept the NE0 and the deflection requirements to cause the inbound NE0 to miss the earth. Threat assessment tools estimated the number of lives saved over a given time frame by deploying a system capable of deflecting an NE0 of a certain size and velocity. All of these tools were integrated into a routine to find the most effective vehicle for a given mission mass and mission time. Discussion of desired future efforts is given. This work was funded under the Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts activity from NASA HQ.
Document ID
20030065980
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Adams, Robert B.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Alexander, Reginald
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Bonometti, Joseph
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Chapman, Jack
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Fincher, Sharon
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Hopkins, Randall
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Kalkstein, Matthew
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Philips, Al
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Polsgrove, Tara
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Statham, Geoffrey
(Engineering Research and Consulting, Inc. United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Meeting Information
Meeting: Joint Propulsion Conference
Location: Huntsville, AL
Country: United States
Start Date: July 20, 2003
End Date: July 23, 2003
Sponsors: American Society for Electrical Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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