How do they plot a course for a space probe through the asteroid belt without it getting hit?

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How do they plot a course for a space probe through the asteroid belt without it getting hit?

2006-06-13 23:21:01 · 2 answers · asked by David W 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space

2 answers

They don't have to. Yes, there are thousands of asteroids, but space is really, really big! The asteroids are so far apart that you could just randomly fly any path through the belt and never see one. They actually have to carefully plot a course to rendezvous with one if that is the goal of the mission, like NEAR or Hayabusa.

2006-06-14 02:27:30 · answer #1 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋

The asteroid belt is very thinly populated. A spacecraft can travel through it without much risk of damage.

2006-06-14 01:01:18 · answer #2 · answered by NotEasilyFooled 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋