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ESA selects targets for asteroid-deflecting mission Don Quijote
 
Artist's impression of the Don Quijote Mission.
 
  A near miss?
 
asteroid impact with the Earth
Artist's impression on an asteroid impact with the Earth.
 
  Looking for the perfect target
 
Asteroids come in many shapes and sizes
Comparative sizes of asteroids.

Credits: courtesy Observatoire de Paris
 
 
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
 
  Note for editors:
 
Hidalgo impacts with the asteroid
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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 missionNEO Space Mission PreparationAdvanced Concepts TeamCDF
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CDF NEO study
 
 
 
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