Main Engine Cut OffThe Asteroid Redirect Mission and Planetary Defense
Curt Godwin for Spaceflight Insider:
Given enough time in close proximity with the asteroid, the “gravity tractor” will slowly nudge the body away, potentially averting a planetary disaster.
“This is a hazard that, 65 million years ago, the dinosaurs succumbed to,” noted Dr. Holdren. “We have to be smarter than the dinosaurs.”
Throughout the troubled history of NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission, I’ve been miffed at the off-and-on relationship it has had with planetary defense.
Originally, it was a central theme. When plans changed, not as much was heard about that and it seemed like that was less of a focus. Glad to see it reentering the communications side of ARM.