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Collecting Asteroid-Orbiting Samples: enabling a safer, sustainable, and autonomous exploration of asteroids

Project description

Improving deep space missions to asteroids

In recent years, advancements in numerous fields, including astronomy and space travel, have made possible many things previously thought impossible. One of these is the concept of asteroid mining and research into the composition of asteroid materials. This could provide us with great sources for mineral resources, fuel, oxygen and water, not only making other missions self-sustainable but also providing us on Earth with a plenitude of resources. Along with the material benefits of such a mission would come advances in our knowledge of asteroid composition and our capabilities to deflect them. The EU-funded CRADLE project’s aim is to improve the design and operation of such missions along with our methods for tracking and collecting asteroid fragments, thus making such missions more feasible.

Objective

Exploring asteroids and other small bodies in the solar system is a challenging task, which carries immense scientific benefits. Our understanding of the early Solar System would advance greatly by studying the chemicals stored in carbonaceous asteroids. Through the development of advanced technology, we will be able to process asteroid material into fuel, oxygen, and water, making long-duration mission self-sustainable. Metallic asteroid could offer a great source of mineral resources through asteroid mining. The knowledge of asteroids composition is also fundamental to help defend our planet from possible impactor, enabling effective asteroid deflection missions. The overall aim of this action is to advance the way we design and operate deep space missions to asteroids, and especially, how we model, track, and collect asteroid fragments. They give invaluable insight on the composition and the dynamical environment of asteroids, as well as key information on how we can deflect them. The research objectives will be achieved through the theoretical studies on particle dynamics, the development of machine-learning algorithms for tracking them, and the design of a particle collection device to gather them in orbit. These objectives are relevant to H2020 Work Programme, specifically regarding the “market creating innovation” and “strengthening international R&I cooperation”. The approach combines my current skills with the ones that I will have acquired during the fellowship. I will improve my professional maturity and foster new collaboration under the supervision of eminent researchers, in preparation for an independent career.

Coordinator

POLITECNICO DI MILANO
Net EU contribution
€ 229 704,64
Address
PIAZZA LEONARDO DA VINCI 32
20133 Milano
Italy

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Region
Nord-Ovest Lombardia Milano
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost
€ 229 704,64

Partners (1)