B01 Study on the Kinetic Energy Impactor for Asteroid Deflection Using Electric Solar Wind Sail

Abstract

Electric sail uses natural solar wind plasma stream to generate a propulsive force and it allows a spacecraft to perform orbit transfer with small reaction mass. The aim of this paper is to investigate the performance and feasibility of electric sail kinetic impactor for asteroid deflection missions. Asteroid mitigation scenario and simulation model for electric sail are given. Through detailed studies using numerical simulations, performance of electric sail kinetic impactor is emphasized.