NASA conducted an experiment with asteroids at the HAARP facility. Reported by the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.
HAARP is an experimental physical radio installation in Alaska, consisting of 180 antennas designed to transmit signals into the ionosphere. In this case, the antenna area can also be used for other scientific missions. Now HAARP has sent a signal to the near-Earth asteroid 2010 XC15 and received a reflected “echo”. This celestial body is estimated to be about 170 meters in diameter and periodically crosses the Earth at twice the distance to the Moon.
“We will analyze the data over the next few weeks and hope to publish the results in the coming months,” said Mark Haynes, a project researcher and radar systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “This experiment was the first attempt at observing asteroids at such low frequencies.” HAARP is designed to operate at decameter frequencies. Scientists hope that since short waves are reflected from the surface and do not penetrate inside, a study at relatively long wavelengths will allow us to determine the internal structure of the celestial body. The experiment lasted 12 hours in total.
The authors hope that the data obtained will allow to create a system to accurately analyze the properties of asteroids to create a defense against those that could threaten Earth.
it used to be announcedThe HAARP complex will begin exploring Jupiter’s ionosphere.