Russian scientists develop a project on creating protective belt on the orbit of small asteroids that could be used to change the orbit of other asteroids threatening the Earth, - Institute for Space exploration of Russian academy of Sciences leading scientist Nathan Acemont.
According to him scientists study whether it is possible to create a protective asteroid belt at the distance of 100-200 thousand kilometers from the Earth by bringing asteroids there with the help of gravitational maneuvers.
There are some asteroids easy to put into such stationary orbit by means of gravitational maneuvers in regards of the impulse necessary to change their velocity . It appears that there are more than 10 such near-Earth asteroids. And there will be even more; their quantity will increase at dramatic rate, – Acemont said behind the scenes of international conference on protection from asteroid and comet danger.
According to him it is definitely possible to change the orbit of an object dangerous for the Earth using such asteroids instead of special space devices due to asteroids’ greater impulse. Moreover it would be much easier to get sample of soil from the asteroids of this belt than from the asteroid NASA is going to place near the Moon.
Russian scientists believe that we have already all technologies to put such project into life despite the fact that there are still some uncertain points that need further consideration. But the key issues such as whether we have enough fuel, are we accurate enough, or are there asteroids suitable, are already settled, – Acemont said.
