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phion
Gold Member
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http://spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/satellites/sentinels-mission-to-find-500000-nearearth-asteroidsHumankind lives in a cosmic shooting gallery. For evidence of that, we need look no further than the events of 15 February 2013. On that day, a medium-size asteroid was set to pass some 28,000 kilometers from Earth, unusually close and well within the orbits of geosynchronous satellites. Dubbed 2012 DA14, the rock was first spotted the previous year. Since then, astronomers had been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to take a closer look and measure such vitals as size, shape, and composition.
Sentinel's mission is to launch a space telescope that will scan the sky for Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) and identify potential impact threats.
NEAs are small rocky objects that orbit near Earth and have the potential to collide with our planet. These collisions could cause significant damage and even mass extinction events. Identifying and tracking NEAs is crucial for developing plans to mitigate potential impact threats.
Sentinel will use infrared technology to detect heat signatures of NEAs as they reflect sunlight. This will allow the telescope to spot even dark or small objects that may be missed by other telescopes. It will also be able to scan a larger portion of the sky at once, making its search more efficient.
The Sentinel mission is expected to launch in 2021 and will operate for at least 6.5 years. During this time, it is estimated to find 90% of NEAs larger than 140 meters in size. The mission may be extended if funding allows.
The Sentinel mission will greatly improve our ability to detect and track potential impact threats from NEAs. By finding and mapping these objects, we can develop plans to mitigate potential impacts and protect our planet. This mission is an important step towards safeguarding Earth from catastrophic events.