California-based non-profit B612 Foundation has announced its intention to place an asteroid-hunting infrared telescope into orbit around the Sun. Named Sentinel, the ambitious endeavor is to be the world's first privately funded deep space mission and will aim to map up to 90 percent of all asteroids larger than 140 meters (459 ft) in Earth’s region of the solar system. In addition to these sizable asteroids, Sentinel will further provide data on a number of smaller asteroids, down to a size of approximately 30 meters (98 ft) in diameter... Continue Reading Sentinel mission to place asteroid-hunting telescope into orbit around the Sun
Section: Science and Education
Tags: Asteroid, NASA, Solar System, Space, Telescope
Related Articles:
- NASA’s NEOWISE survey provides best estimate yet of potentially hazardous asteroids
- Astronomers make unprecedented asteroid impact observations
- 1,400 megapixel telescope powered-up to spot earthbound asteroids
- Laser-wielding satellite swarm to deflect asteroids
- NASA heads underwater to test concepts for future asteroid mission
- NASA’s Dawn spacecraft unlocks secrets of giant asteroid
Bookmarks