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A Multi-functional Paintball Cloud for Asteroid Deflection

et al.; Paek, S. W.

deweck@mit.edu2, ranohkim@gmail.com3 In this paper, the so-called “smart cloud” concept for asteroid deflection is further developed by (1) utilizing each particle as a container for paint powder and (2) deploying multiple “paintball” clouds to paint the entire surface of an asteroid. This permits deflecting an asteroid by means of a low-thrust, l…

Flying SMART-1 to the Moon with Electric Propulsion

Milligan, D.; Gestal, D.; Camino, O.

The SMART-1 Lunar Mission was launched in September 2003, and operated from the European Space Operations Centre, in Darmstadt Germany. SMART-1's primary mission goal was to demonstrate Solar Electric Primary Propulsion by orbit raising from Geostationary Transfer Orbit to the Moon. Due to favourable thruster and power subsystem performance, and a…