Posted on 05/05/2008 8:34:22 PM PDT by blam
Canada to launch first space mission to hunt asteroids
23:31 05 May 2008
NewScientist.com news service
David Shiga
NEOSSat is similar in design to the diminutive Microvariability and Oscillations of Stars (MOST) satellite (shown), which launched in 2003 (Illustration: University of British Columbia)Tools
Canada will launch a suitcase-sized satellite in 2009 to spot potentially dangerous asteroids near Earth's orbit. It will be the first space mission devoted to hunting asteroids and may help find ones that are difficult to spot from the ground.
Asteroids and comets occasionally hit Earth, with devastating consequences – a 10-kilometre-wide asteroid is thought to have wiped out the dinosaurs. To date, more than 5000 such objects have been found with orbits that take them close to Earth's.
Scientists are using ground-based telescopes to track down more of the near-Earth objects (NEOs) to determine if any could potentially hit the planet in the foreseeable future. But some of these objects are difficult to see from the ground.
Now, the Canadian Space Agency plans to launch the world's first space-based telescope dedicated to hunting NEOs.
The suitcase-sized Near Earth Object Surveillance Satellite (NEOSSat) weighs just 60 kilograms and will cost a mere $10 million to build and launch.
It will rely on a telescope with a 15-centimetre mirror, smaller than many backyard telescopes used by amateur astronomers. Chief scientists for the mission are Alan Hildebrand of the University of Calgary and Brad Wallace of Defence Research and Development Canada.
Sky glow
Despite its modest dimensions, the spacecraft's unique vantage point in space may allow it to spot objects that are difficult to see from the ground.
Most of the NEOs found so far have elongated orbits that extend far away from the Sun. But some never venture much beyond
(Excerpt) Read more at space.newscientist.com ...
What an understatement.
They need to hire a good guide, they are so worth it...
Not sure what the asteroid hunting laws are like in Canada though...
Kind of looks like Awesome-O, the robot that Eric Cartman made.
We Always Get Our 'Roids! -- RCMP Space Motto
Hopefully they won’t make the real one out of particle board.
Hey, I've been a huntin' 'em since 1981!
They need to take a look around Uranus.
I’ve never seen Uranus, but I imagine it’s not a pretty sight.
Kind of ugly satellite, but a good idea.
Asteroids and comets occasionally hit Earth, with devastating consequences -Oh, sure, but what are the odds of- hey, wait a sec. What's that brilliant orange ball on the horizon? ;')
What an understatement.
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Comet/Asteroid Impacts
and Human Society
ed by Peter T. Bobrowsky
and Hans Rickman
intro (PDF)
due to links here
“Comet/Asteroid Impacts and Human Society” sounds like a good addition to Firestones, Cosmic Catastrophe book [I left it in the car and am having a senior momemt on the full title]. Another worthwhile book is “Comet” by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan, revised in 1997. Also “Impact Earth: Asteroids, Comets and Meteoroids: The Growing Threat” by Austen Atkinson, 1999.
One problem the last book points out is that the southern hemisphere has only one tenth the amount of searching that is going on in the northern hemisphere. Will the Canadian satellite help this problem, or should be be urging South Africa, Argentina or Brazil to also send out a satellite?
The s hemisphere lack is one reason Australia plays such a big role in the search. :’)
Most of the cost going to the launch vehicle whatever one they use. Pegasus maybe.
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