The Level of Rapid Response Reaction
of the Planetary Defense System
A. V. Zaitsev1, A. Koroteev2, B. Liaschuk2, S. Popov2
1Non-profitable Partnership "Planetary Defense Center", Khimki, Russia
2Russian Academy of Cosmonautics by K. E. Tsiolkovsky, Moscow, Russia
Abstract:
The necessity to include two basic levels — a level for rapid response reaction (RRR) and a level for deliberate and well-planned reaction — in the structure of the Planetary Defense System (PDS) has been substantiated in [1-3].
This article reviews results for the development of RRR principal components: a reconnaissance spacecraft and intercepting spacecraft. The reconnaissance spacecraft is intended for investigation of dangerous celestial bodies (DCBs), the intercepting spacecraft for their deflection or destruction. Feasibility to identify a DCB 2 to 3 days before its impact is shown.
The necessity of using nuclear methods and, in specific events, kinetic impactors in the RRR structure has been shown. The possibility of the deflection or destruction of a DCB up to hundreds meters of size is indicated.
Key words:
Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), Near Earth Objects (NEOs), Planetary Defense System (PDS), rapid response reaction (RRR), deliberate and well-planned reaction, reconnaissance spacecraft, intercepting spacecraft, dangerous celestial bodies (DCBs), deflection or destruction of DCBs, to identify a DCB, nuclear methods, kinetic impactors in the RRR structure.