Abstract:
Cooperative monitoring missions determine the orbits of asteroids and monitor their impact processes through an entire process chain, by which the effectiveness of the usage of kinetic energy impact means for asteroid defense can be evaluated. They are key links in the demonstration and verification mission for near-Earth asteroid defense. In this paper, the evaluation characteristics and cooperative monitoring of Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) missions were surveyed, based on which the ground-based and space-based monitoring capabilities, and the characteristics of cooperative monitoring missions of China were comprehensively analyzed focusing on the China’s near-Earth asteroids defense demonstration and verification. A cooperative monitoring mission scheme was designed on the concept of “remote exploration, approaching observation, post evaluation, and joint testing”, with relevant key technologies identified. Finally, some enligntenments and suggestions were proposed in promoting the construction of the monitoring capacity system, as well as deepening and expanding international exchanges and cooperations. This work may provide support for the demonstration and verification of future China’s near-Earth asteroid defense, further for the construction of cooperative monitoring and warning capability system.