Investigations of short warning time response options for hazardous near-Earth objects

This paper describes an assessment of capabilities for two planetary defense techniques: Kinetic Energy Impactors (KEIs) and Nuclear Explosive Devices (NEDs), including both Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) deflection and disruption. These studies will help us understand how energetic systems affect asteroidal (or cometary) bodies, and how to deliver energetic payloads to target objects under short warning time conditions, accounting for real-life constraints including payload integration and spacecraft lifecycle. Techniques for spacecraft trajectory optimization and mission design, scientific knowledge of asteroid and comet characteristics and chemistry, and energetic systems modeling will be combined to produce designs and strategies that will inform effective, reliable responses to short warning time NEA impact scenarios.