Threat Mitigation: The Gravity Tractor

TL;DR

The Gravity Tractor is a proposed asteroid deflection method using a spacecraft's gravity to slowly alter an asteroid's trajectory, enabling safe deflection without physical contact or detailed asteroid knowledge.

Contribution

This paper introduces the Gravity Tractor concept as a novel asteroid deflection technique that relies solely on gravitational attraction, reducing the need for detailed asteroid characterization.

Findings

Effective for asteroids below 200 meters in diameter

Can be deployed a decade or more before impact

Provides real-time monitoring of deflection progress

Abstract

The Gravity Tractor (GT) is a fully controlled asteroid deflection concept using the mutual gravity between a robotic spacecraft and an asteroid to slowly accelerate the asteroid in the direction of the "hovering" spacecraft. Based on early warning, provided by ground tracking and orbit prediction, it would be deployed a decade or more prior to a potential impact. Ion engines would be utilized for both the rendezvous with the asteroid and the towing phase. Since the GT does not dock with or otherwise physically contact the asteroid during the deflection process there is no requirement for knowledge of the asteroid's shape, composition, rotation state or other "conventional" characteristics. The GT would first reduce the uncertainty in the orbit of the asteroid via Earth tracking of its radio transponder while station keeping with the asteroid. If, after analysis of the more precise asteroid orbit a deflection is indeed indicated, the GT would "hover" above the surface of the asteroid in the direction of the required acceleration vector for a duration adequate to achieve the desired velocity change. The orbit of the asteroid is continuously monitored throughout the deflection process and the end state is known in real time. The performance envelope for the GT includes most NEOs which experience close gravitational encounters prior to impact and those below 150-200 meters in diameter on a direct Earth impact trajectory.