Corneel Bogaert presents a brief overview of near-Earth asteroids. The first chapter describes asteroids in general, and defines "near-Earth asteroids". The second chapter covers the potential threat of an asteroid impact on Earth. In particular, he discusses the monitoring of so-called potentially hazardous asteroids, with remote sensing techniques from Earth and space. He also takes a closer look at several planetary defense initiatives. In the following parts, the more positive aspects of asteroids will be examined. Firstly, the valuable scientific information that asteroids contain. Multiple exploration missions that performed asteroid flybys will be mentioned. Furthermore, three missions to near-Earth asteroids are discussed. The fourth and final chapter discusses the commercial opportunities of asteroids in context with specific missions of a space mining companies.
At first sight, asteroids give a rather dull impression. However, throughout the different chapters of this paper, it appears that these rocky remnants contain more than one would expect. First of all, the dangers of PHAs for humankind as a whole should not be overlooked. These floating rocks, lurking in the darkness in proximity to our planet, are therefore monitored as much as possible. This is done by different catalogs in coordination with remote sensing missions from Earth and space. Moreover, multiple initiatives exist in order to develop planetary defense techniques.
Impact disasters aside, NEAs also offer two great opportunities. As leftovers from the formation of the Solar System, asteroids carry a lot of information about the conditions in the dust cloud that surrounded the Sun when the planets were born. Asteroids are believed to be small enough to have preserved the state of the early solar system. A sample from these celestial fossils can give us clues about the raw materials that made up planets, including our own, in their formative years. However, small the sample amount may be, its scientific significance can be tremendous. The gathered data by exploration missions to NEAs also help to refine the analysis of remote sensing observations and meteorite collections.
Finally, by their accessibility and rich compositions, NEAs increasingly draw substantial commercial interests. One illustration was provided in the last chapter. The priority of Planetary Resources to extract water in order to boost human presence and exploration in deep space seems like a noble purpose and could initiate a new kind of space civilization.
For background also see: http://www.i2mconsultants.com/downloads/corp/Memoir101-T0fC2016.pdf
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