The asteroid belt in our solar system
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The MissionSABSA, or the Sagan Asteroid Belt Satellite Array, is a satellite array on both the Martian side, and the Jovian side of the asteroid belt. The goal of SABSA is to create the first detailed map of the asteroid belt.
The knowledge gained from SABSA will be used for passing spacecraft to be able to pass through without fear of running into debris. In addition it will allow for a better understanding of more of the asteroid belt so that missions in the future could go to various objects for more intensive study that SABSA finds. SABSA will consist of 130 satellites. The asteroid belt is a large amount of rocky objects in between the planet Mars, and the planet Jupiter. The Martian part of SABSA has 30 satellites, while the Jovian side has 100 satellites in order to cover the larger distance that the Jovian orbit consists of. Together they will be able to relay information to each other and back to earth for more efficient and advanced tracking of the asteroids and their orbits. Every year 5 satellites will be launched every year until the 30 satellites of Martian orbit is completed. Then the launch frequency will increase to 10 satellites per year for 1o years until the Jovian solar orbit is also completed. Currently about 1,000 asteroids are discovered every year with conventional telescopes. However, that number could become 1,000 every month after all the satellites are in place. With this array we could learn more about our solar system and its history faster than ever before. |
The SatellitesThe Satellites will use a radar-like device to detect asteroids. They will then use a conventional telescope to track the asteroids and then relay information back to earth.
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The RelayAfter sufficient information has been gathered the information will be sent back to earth to a series of disks that will process that information.
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StudyAfter the information is processed it is sent to NASA for study. This is where the intensive study of the asteroids and the creation of the map can begin.
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