[FPSPACE] Asteroid Deflection: How, where and when?

[LARRY KLAES]

Asteroid Deflection: How, where and when?

Authors: D. Fargion

(Submitted on 12 May 2007 (v1), last revised 27 Jul 2007 (this version, v2))

Abstract: To deflect impact-trajectory of massive km^3 and spinning asteroid 
by a few terrestrial radiuses one need a large momentum exchange. The 
dragging of huge spinning bodies in space by external engine seems difficult 
or impossible. Our solution is based on the landing of multi screw-rockets, 
powered by mini-nuclear engines, on the body, that dig a small fraction of 
the soil surface, to use as an exhaust propeller, ejecting it vertically in 
phase among themselves. Such a mass ejection increases the momentum 
exchange, their number redundancy guarantees the stability of the system. 
The slow landing (below 40 cm s^-1) of each engine-unity at those lowest 
gravity field, may be achieved by save rolling and bouncing along the 
surface. The engine array tuned activity, overcomes the asteroid angular 
velocity. Coherent turning of the jet heads increases the deflection 
efficiency. A procession along its surface may compensate at best the 
asteroid spin. A small skin-mass (about 2 10^4 tons) may be ejected by mini 
nuclear engines. Such prototypes may also build first save galleries for 
humans on the Moon. Conclusive deflecting tests might be performed on remote 
asteroids.

The incoming asteroid 99942 Apophis (just 2% of km^3) may be deflected 
safely a few Earth radiuses. Its encounter maybe not just a hazard but an 
opportunity, learning how to land, dig, build and also to nest save human 
station inside. Asteroids amplified deflections by gravity swing maybe 
driven into longest planetary journeys.

Comments:  14 pages, 5 figures

Subjects:  Astrophysics (astro-ph); Space Physics (physics.space-ph)

Cite as:  arXiv:0705.1805v2 [astro-ph]

Submission history

From: Daniele Fargion [view email]

[v1] Sat, 12 May 2007 23:50:03 GMT (353kb)

[v2] Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:39:36 GMT (380kb)

http://arxiv.org/abs/0705.1805