Scientific Research

Asteroid Institute | DART deflection event with scientists and friends

For 20 years B612 advocated for a deflection technology demonstration mission. Scientists and experts gather, discuss and watch the historic DART impact. On September 26, humanity took an important step forward in our ability to protect planet Earth from asteroid impacts. NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection...

Asteroid Discovery Analysis + Mapping (ADAM) | Project Update by Dr. Ed Lu

The B612 Asteroid Institute’s Asteroid Discovery Analysis and Mapping (ADAM) project continues to make progress. The acronym for our ADAM project has also evolved (replacing Machine with Mapping). This can be summarized by an article in the Financial Times on the need for mapping the...

Asteroid Institute
Scott Manley and Asteroid Institute Visit Meteor Crater

Asteroid Institute advisor Scott Manley and researchers visit Meteor Crater to study an ancient asteroid impact   Asteroid Institute recently organized an annual expedition into Meteor Crater. Thanks to the Barringer Family, Asteroid Institute researchers have non-public access to the crater's rim and base. Asteroid Institute is...

Sampling the Surface of Asteroid Bennu by Scott Manley

On October 20th OSIRIS-REx will grab a sample of asteroid Bennu which has been in space since the earliest days of the solar system.  For the last few years the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has been carefully studying and surveying the small asteroid Bennu, looking for a spot...

Asteroid Institute’s Dr. Reitsema Presents to National Academy of Sciences

Asteroid Institute Mission Director Harold Reitsema recently presented at the National Academies of Science on the work that B612 has done on space-based asteroid observation missions. The National Academies of Sciences has been tasked to explore the capabilities of space-based telescopes, including exploring the relative advantages...

Hayabusa Shoots An Asteroid For Science by Scott Manley

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft has spent the last few months surveying the asteroid Ryugu with its array of sensors and micro rovers with an eye to finding suitable sites to sample. Launched in 2016 the Japanese mission aims to return samples of this asteroid from above...

2018 | B612 Foundation | Annual Report

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_column_text] We are pleased to share this year's annual progress report. As you’ll read, 2018 has been an important year for B612, the Asteroid Institute, and the field of asteroid science and education. We continue to leverage the investments...

Accelerate Asteroid Discovery

Over the past decade, B612, and now the Asteroid Institute, have argued for the importance of finding and tracking Near Earth Asteroids. Consistent with the Asteroid Day 100X Declaration, we have supported efforts to increase the rate of discovery and tracking of asteroids, from LSST to...

DART Moves into Final Design and Assembly Phase

Last month, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) moved into the final design and assembly phase. The DART mission will send a spacecraft to crash into the secondary body of the binary asteroid 65803 Didymos in order to demonstrate the kinetic impact technique needed to...