Planetary protection efficiency by a small kinetic impactor

Joan-Pau Sanchez Cuartielles; Camilla Colombo; Colin McInnes

Planetary protection efficiency by a small kinetic impactor

Joan-Pau Sanchez Cuartielles, Camilla Colombo, Colin McInnes

Mechanical And Aerospace Engineering

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

Abstract

This paper re-examines the deflection concept with, arguably, the highest technological readiness level: the kinetic impactor. A baseline design for the concept with a 1,000 kg spacecraft launched from Earth is defined. The paper then analyses the capability of the kinetic spacecraft to offer planetary protection, thus, deflecting asteroids on a collision trajectory with Earth. In order to give a realistic estimate, the paper uses a set of more than 17 thousand Earth-impacting trajectories and has computed the largest asteroid mass that could be deflected to a sufficiently safe distance from Earth. By using the relative impact frequency of the different impact orbits, which can be estimated by modeling the asteroid population and the collision probability of the different impact geometries, a figure on the level of planetary protection that such a system could offer can be estimated. The results show that such a system could offer very high levels of protection, around 97% deflection reliability, against objects between 15 to 75 meters, while decreases for larger sizes.

Language	English
Publication status	Published - 9 May 2011
Event	IAA Planetary Defense Conference, Protecting Earth from Asteroids: From threat to Action - Bucharest, , Romania Duration: 9 May 2011 → 12 May 2011

Conference

Conference	IAA Planetary Defense Conference, Protecting Earth from Asteroids: From threat to Action
Country	Romania
City	Bucharest,
Period	9/05/11 → 12/05/11

Fingerprint

Asteroids

Earth (planet)

asteroid

kinetics

Kinetics

deflection

Spacecraft

spacecraft

collision

trajectory

Trajectories

Orbits

geometry

Geometry

impactor

modeling

Keywords

kinetic impact
asteroid deflection
earth-impacting trajectories
impact geometries
planetary protection

Cite this

Sanchez Cuartielles, J-P., Colombo, C., & McInnes, C. (2011). Planetary protection efficiency by a small kinetic impactor. Paper presented at IAA Planetary Defense Conference, Protecting Earth from Asteroids: From threat to Action, Bucharest, , Romania.

Sanchez Cuartielles, Joan-Pau ; Colombo, Camilla ; McInnes, Colin. / Planetary protection efficiency by a small kinetic impactor. Paper presented at IAA Planetary Defense Conference, Protecting Earth from Asteroids: From threat to Action, Bucharest, , Romania.

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Sanchez Cuartielles, J-P, Colombo, C & McInnes, C 2011, 'Planetary protection efficiency by a small kinetic impactor' Paper presented at IAA Planetary Defense Conference, Protecting Earth from Asteroids: From threat to Action, Bucharest, , Romania, 9/05/11 - 12/05/11, .

Planetary protection efficiency by a small kinetic impactor. / Sanchez Cuartielles, Joan-Pau; Colombo, Camilla; McInnes, Colin.

2011. Paper presented at IAA Planetary Defense Conference, Protecting Earth from Asteroids: From threat to Action, Bucharest, , Romania.

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

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Sanchez Cuartielles J-P, Colombo C, McInnes C. Planetary protection efficiency by a small kinetic impactor. 2011. Paper presented at IAA Planetary Defense Conference, Protecting Earth from Asteroids: From threat to Action, Bucharest, , Romania.