Magnetic towing of asteroids using a spacecraft with a solar sail as a propulsion system
Authors: Poluektov R.M.
Published in issue: #12(108)/2020
DOI: 10.18698/2308-6033-2020-12-2041
Category: Aviation and Rocket-Space Engineering | Chapter: Aircraft Dynamics, Ballistics, Motion Control
The paper considers the possibility of changing the orbit of potentially dangerous asteroids using the concept of a spacecraft — a magnetic tractor. The described concept is based on the use of a superconducting electromagnet mounted on a spacecraft and a permanent neodymium magnet attached to the surface of an asteroid. The principle of operation of this type of vehicle is similar to the concept of a spacecraft — a gravitational tractor, however, the considered vehicle, in addition to the force of mutual gravitational interaction, uses the force of magnetic attraction as a tug. A solar sail is used as a propulsion system for the type of vehicles under consideration. Within the framework of the work, the analysis of the effectiveness of the use of spacecraft of this type was carried out by modeling the joint motion of the asteroid — spacecraft system for a long time using the example of the change in the orbit of the asteroid Apophis.
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