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Cosmic Engineering: Moving Asteroids
UAM, Poznan, Poland
- 1 UAM, Poznan, Poland
International Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics·Volume 03 (2013)·Pages 517–519·Published 9 October 2013·DOI10.4236/ijaa.2013.34060
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Abstract
This paper presents methods of orbit transfer for small planetoids from the main belt to the future colonies on Mars using current technologies. The results show that by using nuclear weapon or even kinetic energy weapon (for retrograde bodies) asteroids with masses up to about 100 tons can be moved. Both options assume that asteroid will survive explosion.
KeywordsAstrodynamicsCelestial MechanicsOrbital MotionOptimal Control
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