How do Spacecrafts avoid Hitting Asteroids while Moving in Space?
In the last few decades, we have made a lot of progress in the field of space technology. Our Voyager-1 and Voyager-2 missions became the first missions to enter the solar system into interstellar space. Also, NASA's New Horizons mission became the first mission to study a Kuiper Belt object. We sent many missions to the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn in the solar system. But friends, along with this, sometimes this question would definitely arise: how can any mission not collide with the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and the Kuiper belt beyond Neptune without colliding? And they can do it easily. So read this article completely to know.
Contents:
Asteroid Belt, Kuiper Belt & Oort Cloud in our Solar System
The Asteroid Belt is a region between Mars and Jupiter where millions of small asteroids and some huge dwarf planets are present. This huge asteroid belt is spread over a vast area of about 140 million miles.
It seems that the asteroid belt was born at the time of the formation of our solar system. Space objects of a few meters in size and some huge dwarf planets are present in this region, among which Ceres, Vesta, Pallas, and Hygiea are prominent. Despite being in a huge chaitra, the total mass of the asteroid belt is only 4 percent of the mass of our moon.
Kuiper Belt?
The Kuiper Belt is one of the largest dangers present in our solar system. It is spread over a vast area beyond the planet Neptune. It is believed that the main region of the Kuiper Belt extends from 30 astronomical units to 50 astronomical units. Friends, let me tell you that an astronomical unit means the distance between the sun and the earth.
And its outer region extends from 50 AU to 1000 AU. Small comets and ice objects are mainly present in this region. Pluto, the dwarf planet, is the largest thing present in the Kuiper Belt. Recently, NASA's New Horizons mission studied the Ultima Thule object present in the Kuiper Belt.
Oort Cloud
The last one present is the Oort Cloud, which is spread in the outermost region of the solar system. According to estimates, it may be spread over a very large area, ranging from about 2000 AU to 200,000 AU. That is, it extends from the heliosphere of our solar system to interstellar space. There are millions of space objects and icy bodies present in this vast area.
But scientists still do not know much about structure and composition. Because not only is it located at a great distance, but it is also spread over a very vast area.
Due to this, the distance between any two objects reaches several thousands of kilometers. At present, it may take up to 300 years for the Voyager 1 mission to reach the Oort Cloud. And it may take another 30,000 years to reach its boundary.
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Space crafts which have passed them successfully
When space probes and spacecraft travel in space, their speed is very high.
At present, the Voyager 1 mission is traveling at a speed of 62000 kilometers per hour, and the same New Horizons mission is currently traveling at a speed of 58000 kilometers per hour. And if, while moving at this speed, a space object a few meters high collides with them, then any mission can be completely ruined.
What we see is not true. What we see is not true.
Now let us talk about our question about why no space mission collides with these asteroids. So, friends, let me tell you that your question will be mainly based on photos and videos of the Asteroid Belt and Kuiper Belt.
In which we are shown Asteroids present one behind the other, which are very close to each other. But friends, let me tell you that this rarely happens in reality, and generally, these space objects are present at a distance of hundreds to thousands of kilometers from each other.
Through which spacecraft pass very easily. Scientists have already detected them through ground-based telescopes.
How do spacecraft avoid hitting asteroids?
Yes, there are some places where asteroids and space objects are very close to each other as compared to other places. But if scientists want a spacecraft to pass through them, then they choose this route.
Where asteroid and space object are present at maximum distance from each other and where there is very little chance of them colliding with any spacecraft.
That's enough about the asteroid belt. Now let's talk about the Kuiper Belt, where asteroids and space objects are present at a greater distance than the Asteroid Belt. Here, the distance between these space bodies ranges from thousands to lakhs of kilometers.
For this reason, the possibility of a spacecraft colliding with any space object is even less here. And for this reason, missions like Voyager-1 and Voyager-2 crossed the Kuiper Belt very easily.
And at present, NASA's New Horizons mission is present in the Kuiper Belt, which has studied the dwarf planet Pluto and the space object Ultima Thule. And in the coming time, it will study many more Kuiper Belt objects.
Summary and FAQ
Hopefully, you have the answer to your question by now. But still, many people will have a question in their minds about what will happen if, due to some reasons or circumstances, a situation arises where a spacecraft comes in front of a space object.
So friends, let me tell you that at present we have so much technology that we can detect any comet, space object, or asteroid 72 hours in advance with the help of the radio telescope and astro signal available with us. That means we will have enough time to change the path of any spacecraft. Due to this, we can prevent any conflict very easily. Here are some questions that could arise in your mind:
1. How does NASA stop asteroids?
NASA is researching methods to divert potentially hazardous asteroids. Concepts include kinetic impactors, gravity tractors, and directed energy, but no operational system currently exists.
2. How do satellites not get hit by asteroids?
Satellites are at a lower orbit than asteroids, and space is vast. The likelihood of a satellite colliding with an asteroid is extremely low due to these factors.
3. How does Voyager avoid asteroids?
Voyager spacecraft were directed on carefully planned trajectories, avoiding known asteroid paths. Additionally, the vast distances and sparse distribution of asteroids in space reduce the risk of collisions.
4. Can spacecraft land on asteroids?
Yes, spacecraft can land on asteroids. Several missions, such as NASA's OSIRIS-REx and Japan's Hayabusa2, have successfully executed asteroid landings to study these celestial bodies up close.
5. How does the space station avoid meteorites?
The International Space Station (ISS) maneuvers to avoid potential collisions with space debris and meteoroids. Ground-based tracking systems provide data for trajectory adjustments to ensure the safety of the ISS.
6. Can an astronaut walk on an asteroid?
Walking on an asteroid's surface poses challenges due to microgravity and the irregular shape of asteroids. Astronauts would likely use tethers or special tools to navigate and anchor themselves.
7. What is the greatest danger to spacecraft?
Space debris, including defunct satellites and fragments from collisions, poses a significant threat to spacecraft. Collisions with these objects can damage or destroy satellites and spacecraft in orbit.
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