On the deflection of asteroids with mirrors

This paper presents an analysis of an asteroid deflection method based on multiple solar concentrators. A model of the deflection through the sublimation of the surface material of an asteroid is presented, with simulation results showing the achievable impact parameter with, and without, accounting...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Celestial mechanics and dynamical astronomy 2010-06, Vol.107 (1-2), p.265-284
Main Authors: Vasile, Massimiliano, Maddock, Christie Alisa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerospace Technology and Astronautics
Asteroids
Astrophysics
Astrophysics and Astroparticles
Classical Mechanics
Deflection
Dynamical Systems and Ergodic Theory
Geophysics/Geodesy
Mathematical models
Orbits
Original Article
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Spacecraft
Sublimation
Surface temperature
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Summary:This paper presents an analysis of an asteroid deflection method based on multiple solar concentrators. A model of the deflection through the sublimation of the surface material of an asteroid is presented, with simulation results showing the achievable impact parameter with, and without, accounting for the effects of mirror contamination due to the ejected debris plume. A second model with simulation results is presented analyzing an enhancement of the Yarkovsky effect, which provides a significant deflection even when the surface temperature is not high enough to sublimate. Finally the dynamical model of solar concentrators in the proximity of an irregular celestial body are discussed, together with a Lyapunov-based controller to maintain the spacecraft concentrators at a required distance from the asteroid.
ISSN:0923-2958
1572-9478
DOI:10.1007/s10569-010-9277-3