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Wednesday, January 29th, 12:00-1:00 PM PST
The impact consequences of Near-Earth Objects (NEO) require proactive measures to eliminate or reduce them when lead times are too short for effective deep space deflection/destruction operation. To expand mitigation beyond deep space, ground-based pre-built interceptors launched minutes before atmospheric entry can respond to detection times from minutes to months before impact with Earth. The disruption of a small NEO prior to its atmospheric entry could potentially eliminate or reduce damage to life and property on the ground by dispersing its kinetic energy over a wider area.
The Guidance and Control Subdivision at The Aerospace Corporation has applied interceptor techniques to engage an incoming NEO at high altitude minutes before its atmospheric entry. The objective is to disrupt the object and deposit its kinetic energy at a higher altitude and disperse it over a wider footprint on the ground. A Monte Carlo simulation applied fireball statistical properties from a NASA database to correlate flight time and altitude of intercept with interceptor requirements. Preliminary results show that exoatmospheric intercept altitudes are attainable even when detection and launch occur minutes before impact. Local, regional, or national objectives determine the number of systems and response time requirements. Hydrocode modeling demonstrated the amount of disruption caused to the asteroid by several kinetic kill vehicles. Detection technology, terminal guidance capability, disruption analysis, and debris reentry analysis are key areas of future work.
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