NASA will study the comet's "the hitchhiker"

NASA will launch into space new unusual probe. He will wander between small celestial bodies of the Solar system "the hitchhiker" in the form of companion other comets and asteroids.

The extraordinary idea of creating probe-"the hitchhiker" suggested planetology Masahiro It from the jet propulsion Laboratory of NASA (JPL) in Pasadena. Inspired scientist on this project is a series of novels "the Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy" by English writer Douglas Adams, informs a press-service of the organization.

"To catch a passing asteroid is not as easy as to vote on the highway, as in space to achieve the desired result is not enough to raise your thumb and pulling the hand of a celestial body is flying at an astronomical rate, and it will not stop to collect you. Instead of the grandiose finger we expect to use a specialized harpoon and chain" - said It.

Process space "voting" will be held as follows: the probe should reciprocate with a comet or an asteroid, shoot the harpoon and to strengthen it on the surface of a small planet. After the consolidation will begin the automatic unwinding of the chain. Approaching the prey, the probe will detach from his old companion and sit on the surface of a new asteroid or comet, throwing braking devices, which will collect the kinetic energy as the acceleration of the probe.

When the probe attains sufficient speed and gets closer to the goal, he just disconnected from their own "companion" and sit on the surface of another asteroid or comet, using the brake to catch up with them in speed. The energy collected by these brakes will be in the following days, applied for the separation of the cable from the surface from abandoned celestial body.

It is known that the cable will create from high-strength carbon nanotubes and Kevlar, and the harpoon - cover diamonds or their analogues. According to the version of Masahiro Ono, the study of small celestial bodies with the help of probe-"the hitchhiker" will be allowed to categorically refuse expensive propulsion systems, and from the use of large reserves of fuel.

sections: Society, World News