Sentinel mission to place asteroid-hunting telescope into orbit around the Sun
« Back to Article
Sentinel will measure 7 m (25.4 ft) tall x 3.2 m (10.5 ft) across and will weigh 1,500 kg (3,300 Ibs)
Sentinel will provide enough accurate data to project the locations of sizable asteroids for the next 100 years
Sentinel is to be primarily built by the same manufacturers of successful projects like the Spitzer Space Telescope and Kepler Space Observatory
The distance from Earth to the Sentinel space telescope will vary between 30-170 million miles
Article Summary
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.
« Back to Sentinel mission to place asteroid-hunting telescope into orbit around the Sun
Other Images from this Gallery
Related Articles
-
NASA’s NEOWISE survey provides best estimate yet of potentially hazardous asteroids
17th May, 2012
-
Astronomers make unprecedented asteroid impact observations
6th April, 2009
-
1,400 megapixel telescope powered-up to spot earthbound asteroids
23rd June, 2010
-
Laser-wielding satellite swarm to deflect asteroids
27th March, 2012
-
NASA heads underwater to test concepts for future asteroid mission
12th June, 2012
-
NASA’s Dawn spacecraft unlocks secrets of giant asteroid
15th May, 2012
