Various Methods of Perturbing Three Asteroids from an Earth-Impact Trajectory

Abstract

Asteroids with orbits intersecting earth pose varying levels of threat to mankind and our planet. A small object, ^100 m diameter, can wipe out cities the size of New York or San Francisco. Larger objects, >1 km diameter, impacting the Earth can have global, catastrophic consequences. Possible ways of preventing dangerous objects from colliding with Earth are presented in this investigation. Methods of asteroid mitigation fall into two general classes: deflection and fragmentation. Significant work has been done in both areas, but the majority of the numerical results have been for general types (i.e. sizes) of asteroids. This investigation will give numerical results for three real asteroids that get within ^0.04 AU of Earth or closer. Results are produced for a variety of techniques, both deflection and fragmentation, available for hazard mitigation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 26, 1998
Accession Number
ADA356196

Entities

People

  • Richard J. Kulesa

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter IED
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aphelions
  • Asteroids
  • Escape Velocity
  • Explosions
  • Explosive Charges
  • Explosive Devices
  • Explosives
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Lead Time
  • Nuclear Explosions
  • Orbits
  • Perihelions
  • Solar Radiation
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Orbits
  • Trajectories
  • Transfer Orbits

Readers

  • Solar Physics
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris