Orbital Simulations on Deflecting Near-Earth Objects by Directed Energy

Zhang, Qicheng; Walsh, K. J.; Melis, Carl; Hughes, Gary B.; Lubin, P. M.

doi:10.1088/1538-3873/128/962/045001

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…As of 2020, over 23,000 near-earth asteroids and 110 near-earth comets are on record and are being monitored, with planet defenders tirelessly searching for other potentially hazardous objects that could impact Earth. 5 From a technical point of view, lasers have the potential to become critical elements of planetary defense, as they may be used to deflect asteroids by the photon pressure method (Lubin et al, 2016;Zhang et al, 2016Zhang et al, , 2019. In relation to this, they can be used to explore asteroids' internal composition through laser-induced ablation, whereby facilitating other possible methods of deflection.…”

Section: Use Of Lasers Within Space Governancementioning

confidence: 99%

Peaceful Use of Lasers in Space: Context-Based Legitimacy in Global Governance of Large Technical Systems

2021

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Technology offers unique sets of opportunities, from human flourishing to civilization survival, but also challenges, from partial misuse to global apocalypse. Yet technology is shaped by the social environment in which it is developed and used, prompting questions about its desirable governance format. In this context, we look at governance challenges of large technical systems, specifically the peaceful use of high-power lasers in space, in order to propose a conceptual framework for legitimate global governance. Specifically, we adopt a context-based approach to legitimacy to address the trade-offs between effectiveness (output legitimacy) and inclusivity (input legitimacy) in the governance of large technical systems. We show that distinguishing two basic phases of space laser policy which call for different legitimacy criteria helps balance out the trade-offs without sacrificing either effectiveness or inclusivity. Finally, we construe LTSs’ governance as a tool for creating globally networked spaces which may enable coordinated global democratic governance.

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Section: Use Of Lasers Within Space Governancementioning

confidence: 99%

Peaceful Use of Lasers in Space: Context-Based Legitimacy in Global Governance of Large Technical Systems

2021

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“…In this paper, we utilize a three-body simulation (accounting for the gravitational effects of the Earth, the sun, and the target asteroid) to analyze how the applied thrust and the laser-active time impact the miss distance (Zhang et al, 2016;Zhang et al, 2015-1;Zhang et al, 2015-2). In order to determine the orbital deflection, ∆x, of an asteroid that is being acted on over a period of time, t, an approximation that is commonly used in orbital mechanics was used as a comparison.…”

Section: How Magnitude and Duration Of Applied Thrust Influence Miss mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A simple low-thrust formula that shows the dependency of miss distance on t 2 is given in Scheeres and Schweickart (2004). Several previous papers explore optimal strategies for deflection Earth-approaching asteroids, including Conway (2001), Carusi et al (2002), and Vasile and Colombo (2008) In this paper, we utilize a three-body simulation (accounting for the gravitational effects of the Earth, the sun, and the target asteroid) to analyze how the applied thrust and the laser-active time impact the miss distance (Zhang et al, 2016;Zhang et al, 2015-1;Zhang et al, 2015-2). In order to determine the orbital deflection, ∆x, of an asteroid that is being acted on over a period of time, t, an approximation that is commonly used in orbital mechanics was used as a comparison.…”

Section: How Magnitude and Duration Of Applied Thrust Influence Miss ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Figure 17. Miss distance vs. impulse delivery time before impact for 1 GN s impulse using an impactor on an Apophis class asteroid (325 m diameter) using both analytic approximations as well as detailed numerical simulations (Zhang et al, 2015-1;Zhang et al, 2015-2;Zhang et al, 2016). This impactor mass is somewhat larger than an SLS Block 1 can deliver.…”

Section: Impactor Comparisonmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Directed energy missions for planetary defense

Lubin¹,

Hughes²,

Eskenazi³

et al. 2016

Advances in Space Research

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Directed energy for planetary defense is now a viable option and is superior in many ways to other proposed technologies, being able to defend the Earth against all known threats. This paper presents basic ideas behind a directed energy planetary defense system that utilizes laser ablation of an asteroid to impart a deflecting force on the target. A conceptual philosophy called DE-STAR, which stands for Directed Energy System for Targeting of Asteroids and exploration, is an orbiting stand-off system, which has been described in other papers. This paper describes a smaller, stand-on system known as DE-STARLITE as a reduced-scale version of DE-STAR. Both share the same basic heritage of a directed energy array that heats the surface of the target to the point of high surface vapor pressure that causes significant mass ejection thus forming an ejection plume of material from the target that acts as a rocket to deflect the object. This is generally classified as laser ablation. DE-STARLITE uses conventional propellant for launch to LEO and then ion engines to propel the spacecraft from LEO to the near-Earth asteroid (NEA). During laser ablation, the asteroid itself provides the propellant source material; thus a very modest spacecraft can deflect an asteroid much larger than would be possible with a system of similar mission mass using ion beam deflection (IBD) or a gravity tractor. DE-STARLITE is capable of deflecting an Apophis-class (325 m diameter) asteroid with a 1-to 15-year targeting time (laser on time) depending on the system design. The mission fits within the rough mission parameters of the Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) program in terms of mass and size. DE-STARLITE also has much greater capability for planetary defense than current proposals and is readily scalable to match the threat. It can deflect all known threats with sufficient warning.

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“…The effectiveness of near-Earth object deflection via directed energy has been studied previously for several mission configurations, including the rendezvous case, in Zhang et al (2016b). While cometary impactors are discussed, they are treated at a cursory level using a crude heating response model based on the one used for asteroids.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Orbital Deflection of Comets by Directed Energy

Zhang

Lubin

Hughes

2019

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Cometary impacts pose a long-term hazard to life on Earth. Impact mitigation techniques have been studied extensively, but they tend to focus on asteroid diversion. Typical asteroid interdiction schemes involve spacecraft physically intercepting the target, a task feasible only for targets identified decades in advance and in a narrow range of orbits-criteria unlikely to be satisfied by a threatening comet. Comets, however, are naturally perturbed from purely gravitational trajectories through solar heating of their surfaces which activates sublimation-driven jets. Artificial heating of a comet, such as by a laser, may supplement natural heating by the Sun to purposefully manipulate its path and thereby avoid an impact. Deflection effectiveness depends on the comet's heating response, which varies dramatically depending on factors including nucleus size, orbit and dynamical history. These factors are incorporated into a numerical orbital model to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of using high-powered laser arrays in Earth orbit and on the ground for comet deflection. Simulation results suggest that a diffraction-limited 500 m orbital or terrestrial laser array operating at 10 GW for 1% of each day over 1 yr is sufficient to fully avert the impact of a typical 500 m diameter comet with primary nongravitational parameter A 1 = 2 × 10 −8 au d −2 . Strategies to avoid comet fragmentation during deflection are also discussed.

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Orbital Simulations on Deflecting Near-Earth Objects by Directed Energy

Cited by 10 publications

References 31 publications

Peaceful Use of Lasers in Space: Context-Based Legitimacy in Global Governance of Large Technical Systems

Peaceful Use of Lasers in Space: Context-Based Legitimacy in Global Governance of Large Technical Systems

Directed energy missions for planetary defense

Orbital Deflection of Comets by Directed Energy

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