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ESA selects targets for asteroid-deflecting mission Don Quijote

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Artist's impression of the Don Quijote Mission.

A near miss?

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Artist's impression on an asteroid impact with the Earth.

Looking for the perfect target

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Comparative sizes of asteroids.

Credits: courtesy Observatoire de Paris

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Typical orbits for inner solar system asteroids

This artist's impression shows how the families of asteroids follow the orbits of their prototypes. Amors cross Mars’ orbit but do not cross Earth’s. It is the Apollo asteroids that cross Earth’s orbit. There are also the Atens. These asteroids spend most of their time inside Earth’s orbit, crossing it briefly before disappearing back into the glare of the Sun.

Credits: ESA 2002. Illustration by Medialab

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Hidalgo impacts with the asteroid while Sancho, with an attitude appropriate to its name, retreats to a safe distance to observe the impact without taking unnecessary risk.

Credits: ESA/Deimos Space

More information

Don Quijote mission NEO Space Mission Preparation Advanced Concepts Team CDF

CDF NEO study