Defense Concept Missions
Mission concept library for planetary-defense response planning. These pages describe high-level, public-safe mission concepts only; they do not expose operational controls.
Reconnaissance missionSurvey, characterize, and track the target object before any deflection or disruption campaign.Kinetic impactorChange an asteroid/comet trajectory by striking it with a high-speed spacecraft.Multiple kinetic impactorUse multiple coordinated impactors to increase momentum transfer or manage complex target response.Gravity tractorUse a spacecraft's gravity to gently tug an object onto a safer trajectory over time.Ion-beamUse a directed ion beam from a nearby spacecraft to apply a continuous deflection force.Nuclear standoff deflectionDetonate near the object, not on the surface, to ablate material and create deflection thrust.Nuclear disruptionLast-resort fragmentation/disruption concept for extreme timelines or target classes.Civil defense / evacuationEmergency management, evacuation, sheltering, continuity, and public-warning planning when impact cannot be avoided.