LUNAR SENTINEL~(TM): Planetary Defense from the Moon

摘要

While early detection of hazardous objects is the preferred goal of all planetary defense initiatives, currently, detection of all hazardous objects that are <0.1- km across may not be possible before they are in close proximity to Earth, giving us a very short warning time in the range of weeks to months. To thwart such a threat, we need agile systems in place that are quick to respond and powerful enough to effectively intervene and diffuse the threat. Lunar Sentinel concept proposes using our Moon as an emergency layer of defense for planetary defense; mitigating small "city killer" type NEO/cometary fragment threats that are still difficult to detect well in advance using current technologies. Merits and challenges are addressed. Recent progress in Directed Energy (DE) systems show promising results. Several mobile HEL systems are being tested currently. High energy laser (HEL) beams focused on bodies like water-ice rich cometary surfaces can analyze constituents, provide accurate morphology and could be used to vaporize it. A Directed Energy system complex mounted on the far-side equator and poles of the Moon could be a versatile solution to mitigate small asteroids, and especially incoming cometary fragments in high energy trajectories. Interception of PHOs at close range (<1 AU) at short notice and without fielding any physical projectiles or nuclear devices become possible. Lunar Sentinel offers a clear and defined mandate for yet another use of our Moon; to keep watch and protect planet Earth from hazardous impactors.