Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Mini-satellite exploration of very near earth space fuel objects

Conference ·
OSTI ID:10117148
A prospecting plan is presented to assay near Earth objects (NEO) for their potential to yield rocket fuel. The plan calls out small satellites as the near-term means to achieve low cost surveys and deep subsurface sampling of NEO composition. The water bearing classes of NEO to be considered are limited to those accessible in short time and with small thrusters. These include the water bearing clay objects (phylosilicates) at nearly trivial distances from Earth, and the recently identified water ice objects such as comet ({number_sign}4015) 1979 VA. These objects are evaluated as small satellite prospecting and assay vehicle targets.
Research Organization:
EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC07-76ID01570
OSTI ID:
10117148
Report Number(s):
EGG-M--92532; CONF-9209285--1; ON: DE93005253
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English