Planetary defense is a critical field of research and engineering dedicated to protecting Earth from the potential hazard posed by small bodies in our Solar System. By combining advanced observations, sophisticated modeling, and ambitious space missions, space agencies like NASA aim to detect, characterize, and, if necessary, deflect threatening objects before they can cause significant…
Flying across the vast emptiness of space, fragments of rock and metal journey through the void, carrying within them secrets of planetary birth. These meteorites are our ancient messengers, offering a tangible link to processes that shaped the solar system over 4.5 billion years ago. From dusty grains that clumped together in a swirling disk…
From the moment a swirling cloud of gas and dust began to contract under the pull of gravity, collisions have played a defining role in shaping our Solar System’s destiny. Every world and every orbit has been sculpted by impacts between wandering bodies—tiny dust grains coalescing into planetesimals, proto-planets smashing together to form the terrestrial…
The vision of capturing an asteroid and bringing it into Earth’s orbit has fueled both scientific inquiry and science fiction alike. As humanity pushes deeper into the cosmos, the idea of harnessing near-Earth objects for exploration, resources, and planetary defense becomes ever more enticing. However, this ambitious endeavor requires an intricate interplay of physics, cutting-edge…
