Russian scientists propose mission to "tag" dangerous Asteroid

Russian scientists propose mission to "tag" dangerous asteroid. Russia's Flagship Planetary Mission is uncertain. US-Russia Asteroid-deflection Mission talks. Here is an intriguing article on Russia's Planetary Missions. Anatoly Zak from Russian Space Web writes an eye opener in Russian Space programs.Like a potential criminal tagged with a GPS bracelet, the Earth-threatening space rock could be fitted with a tracking device, helping to watch its orbital movement with unquestionable precision, Russian scientists said.Source: RussianSpaceWeb Photo: Basic scenario of the Russian mission to Apophis. Credit: IKIFailed Planetary Mission Phobos-Grunt (2012)Like a potential criminal tagged with a GPS bracelet, the Earth-threatening space rock could be fitted with a tracking device, helping to watch its orbital movement with unquestionable precision, Russian scientists said.In 2008, a team of engineers at NPO Lavochkin proposed an unmanned mission, which could place a radio beacon on the surface of asteroid 2004 MN4 Apophis. The 350-meter space boulder, discovered in 2004, was expected to pass as close as 36,000 kilometers from Earth in 2029 and, according to some estimates, the gravitational pull of the planet could put it on a collision course with Earth in 2036. NPO Lavochkin's proposal was prepared for a Moscow conference, marking the 100th anniversary ...