Mentor: Paula do Vale Pereira
Description: 2024 YR4 is an asteroid discovered in December 2024, which has garnered significant attention due to a critical orbital prediction analysis. Current observations indicate a 2.3% chance that the asteroid will impact Earth in December 2032. Multiple telescopes are collecting data to refine our understanding of its orbit, size, and mass. Preliminary estimates suggest that a collision could release energy equivalent to several megatons of TNT, with a potential impact radius spanning dozens of kilometers.
The asteroid is expected to make a close flyby of Earth in 2028, providing an opportunity for final measurements to determine whether the 2032 event will result in an Earth impact, a Moon impact, or a flyby. In anticipation of this event, we are exploring mission concepts for each scenario. These concepts include:
- Redirection Mission: This involves altering the asteroid’s trajectory to avoid a collision with Earth. Preliminary analysis will focus on projected impact zones and the energy required to move the asteroid into an alternative orbit, passing between Earth and the Sun. Detailed analysis will determine spacecraft requirements for attitude determination and control subsystems to redirect the asteroid while minimizing potential debris.
- Rendezvous Mission: This mission offers a unique opportunity to observe the asteroid’s close approach to Earth’s gravity field. A spacecraft concept will be developed to perform measurements of the asteroid on closest approach to study its internal structure and composition.
- Lunar Observation Mission: This concept involves deploying a spacecraft to observe the asteroid-Moon impact from lunar orbit, allowing for studies on both the lunar dust characteristics and the structure of the asteroid.
The final mission concept will include a concept of operations, technical budgets, and a preliminary spacecraft design, including potential bus components. This concept will be shared with researchers in the planetary exploration and defense fields to raise awareness of potential missions that could be lifesaving in 2032.
The REU student will work with the faculty mentor and a graduate student to analyses the orbit of the asteroid and the potential changes caused by a spacecraft impact. The student will also perform high level mission design studies and help characterize the main subsystem of the spacecraft being engineered. The skills gained in this research would translate well into graduate studies in the field of space system. The REU student will also be encouraged to contribute to research publications.