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Scientists from NASA and the European Space Agency will meet in Rome, Italy, next week to discuss progress in developing the asteroid rerouting system.
The first mission planned in 2022 is to check if the orbit of the asteroid can be predicted in a predictable way.
One spacecraft will affect the asteroid, while another spacecraft is sent to assess the impact of the collision in order to improve the technique.
NASA
If the mission succeeds, the asteroid deflection may one day be used to protect the Earth from a catastrophic cosmic event.
Experts from around the world will participate in the International Workshop on the Assessment of Asteroid Diversion, which will be held from 11 to 13 September. Participants from both space agencies will discuss the planned joint mission to disrupt the orbit of small asteroids in orbit around the Earth and Mars.
ESA
First, the asteroid will be affected by a NASA spacecraft, called DART, or "asteroid double impact test", which will fly at about 6.6 km per second.
The second spacecraft, Hera, will analyze the crash site DART and will collect data on the impact of the collision on the asteroid path, which can then be used to improve the technique of deviation in case of real threat from an asteroid.
"It is important that Europe plays a leading role in assessing the aberration of asteroids, an innovative task originally developed by ESA research in 2003. "said Ian Carnelly of the European Space Agency. In the interest of all. "
The DART satellite, which is already under construction, is scheduled for summer 2021 to reach the target asteroid in September 2022.
The spacecraft will be equipped with a small additional satellite called LICIACube, which will record when DART will reach the asteroid.
Hera of the European Space Agency will deploy two CubeSats for close surveys, as well as a radar probe.
During the conference, participants will discuss the results of Didymos astronomical observations.
Source: Daily Mail
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