Study the impact impact of satellites on meteorites

Currently, the Earth is still peaceful, but there are still hundreds of potentially dangerous meteorites (NEOs) for our planet.

>>>The meteorite caused the Moon to destroy Earth?

One solution to this problem is to deflect meteorites with a collision satellite. And to see how effective, researcher Frank Schäfer from Fraunhofer Institute with high-speed dynamics of Ernst-Mach-Institut (EMI) in Freiburg, Germany is learning about meteorite and meteorological components The effect of matter on the collision.

If using a satellite or spacecraft about the size of a washing machine to deflect a meteorite weighing hundreds of tons, it would be like "kicking the stone". Even if the ship flies at orbital velocity, the impact it causes on a large enough iron to jeopardize the Earth remains negligible. The problem is that the "bullet" satellite must generate enough energy to take down meteors and collisions must occur at the right time.

Photo: io9.com

Schäfer said: "In fact, the impact of a spacecraft will probably change the meteorite's rate at a rate of several centimeters per second. However, this is enough to deflect asteroid's approach. So if we want to prevent a meteor from colliding with the Earth, we need to deflect its trajectory many years ago. "

Initially, Schäfer's research was to find a way to deflect meteorites with diameters from 100 to 300m by using giant space satellites in the style of 2 marbles hitting each other on billiards tables. However, Schäfer immediately realized that something unusual happened, not simply as if two marbles collided and bounced off. The constituent material of meteorites is also a factor, especially when the collision caused a debris. In this case, the transmission momentum will be 4 times larger than the first collision.

"During the action, not only does the satellite transmit its own momentum into the meteorite, but the matter emitted from the collision site is also released in the opposite direction. The rebound effect acts as a set. Pressure booster for meteorite deviations , " Schäfer said.

To experiment, Schäfer uses pendulum and attaches to the pendulum that resembles the composition of meteorites such as solid quartz, porous sandstone or breathable concrete. He then fired aluminum warheads into the pendulum at a speed of 10 km / s and recorded the results with high-speed cameras, interferometers and lasers.

The results from the experiment proved that the meteorite's material impacted significantly on the impact of satellites. Porous matter will absorb the impact force, similar to the shock absorption area of ​​a car when an accident occurs. Conversely, denser and more elastic material will increase the deviation when impacted.

Schäfer's research is part of the European space agency's NEOShield program - ESA with the goal of deflecting an asteroid in mid-2015.