1st IAA Planetary Defense Conference and Research Student Competition

Suggested by Prabhu Hari

1st IAA Planetary Defense Conference and Research Student Competition

Organised By: Congrex and European Space Agency

Key Dates:
Deadline for Sending abstracts: December 1, 2008

For Whom:
1. Must be post-graduate (Masters or Ph.D.) research student as on 1 December 2008
2. Must have a senior researcher (with at least 4 years post-doctorate research experience) who is permanent staff in a university department or research institution, willing to endorse your paper (e.g. co-author).

About:
In 2029 asteroid 99942 Apophis (2004 MN4) will flyby the Earth at a distance of about 32 000 km. This is closer than any known past or future approach by natural objects larger than about 10 meters (other than objects that have entered Earth’s atmosphere). After a resonant flyby, the asteroid will then return towards Earth with two potential impact dates between 2036 and 2037.

This close encounter with 99942 Apophis in 2029 will provide a window of opportunity for scientific and technological research. Research students are encouraged to think about innovative ways in which this close encounter can be utilised to increase our scientific and/or technological knowledge of small bodies and their surrounding environment.

Papers will be welcomed on a variety of subjects that can be related to the theme of Apophis and small body encounters. Subjects for papers might include, but are not limited to; modelling of the small asteroid environment and related effects (e.g. plasma environment, dust, solar radiation, Yarkovsky effect); geology and geophysics of small bodies, dynamics and control related to Apophis-like rendezvous and interception scenarios; innovative deflection strategies and mission architectures, etc.

The best student paper will be awarded a prize.

For More Details
Website: http://www.congrex.nl/09c04/student.asp
Download the Competition Information here.