OPENSPACE 24: The Future of Space Exploration | Page 34

What can we learn from the geology of the object
after impact?
Since asteroids are distant objects that in most cases we
can only observe remotely with telescopes, our geological
knowledge is quite limited. A handful of asteroids have been
visited by spacecraft, and in these cases we know much more
about their geology, but the numbers are still obviously limited.
However, a large amount of additional information on their
geological and physical property can be obtained on Earth
from the meteorites we collect on the ground. From them,
we learned that most asteroids have a rocky composition,
“The possibility of using a spacecraft
to search for undiscovered NEOs is
extremely promising because from
space it is possible to cover part of
the sky that is not easily observable
from the ground.”
but a few are metallic and consequently much heavier
and more resistant to disintegration when they go through
the atmosphere. We also learned that the compositional
differences between types of asteroids imply that each body
will react differently to an attempt to deflect it.
always visible in the international community. More recently,
the increased attention on very small NEOs, which remain
Are there any planned space missions to advance
the search of NEOs in the near future? visible for a very short amount of time (often less than a day)
The possibility of using a spacecraft to search for undiscovered all over the planet in order to be able to obtain observations
NEOs is extremely promising because from space it is as quickly as possible. Consequently, we are now trying to
possible to cover part of the sky that is not easily observable expand our network to South America and to Asia.
has shown the importance of having collaborators spread
from the ground. Right now, the only space mission actively
NASA mission that reuses the spacecraft of a now completed Could you please describe a best practice achieved
thanks to close collaboration between institutions?
astrophysics mission to observe and detect new NEOs in the One example of a close collaboration between our team
infrared. Many new missions are under study, including one and the U.S. community is happening right now. NASA
from the same team currently opera