Researchers at the 54th Israel Annual Conference on Aerospace Sciences:
“We must be prepared for the threat of a large asteroid colliding with Earth”
“In light of past collisions between Earth and asteroids, we are aware of the dangers of such a calamity and must prepare for the possibility of such an occurrence accordingly – so that we don’t end up like the dinosaurs.” This is what Professor Daniel Scheeres from the University of Colorado Boulder said, who has had an asteroid named for him, Scheeres 8887, discovered in 1994. He spoke at the Technion, at the 54th Israel Annual Conference on Aerospace Sciences.”
“Asteroids are debris leftover from the formation of the Solar System, so they teach us much about the early existence of the system and its mechanics,” he explained. Asteroids are relatively small bodies – their size ranges in diameter, from a grain of sand, up to 1,000 kilometers. These bodies are constantly changing under the influence of solar radiation and interactions with other stars and bodies. “NASA is investing heavily in missions aimed at exploring asteroids; it is believed that being able to land on an asteroid may be an excellent ‘pilot’ for future landings on Mars,” said Professor Scheeres. He related his involvement in the OSIRIS-REx, the mission, to launch a spacecraft in 2016 scheduled to return in 2023, which will bring back to Earth extensive information on asteroid Bennu and about the mechanics of the formation of the Solar System.
Within the framework of the conference, a student project competition was held. Noam Neeman and Doreen Avsaid, from the Technion’s Faculty of Aerospace Engineering were awarded first place in the category of “Research/Experimental Project” for their unique project mentored by Dr. Yossi Elimelech. The pair studied how the hummingbird’s flight capabilities are affected during the molting period, when it sheds and replaces its feathers. The findings of this study may have practical implications in the small aircrafts field. “This was a research project we undertook as part of our undergraduate studies,” related Noam, who holds the title of Israeli champion in 3,000 meter steeplechase for five years in a row, “Working on it demanded more hours of my time than the rest of my degree studies.”
Doreen, his partner in the winning project, said that, “The research project was the hardest task of her degree studies. During Hanukah we sat days and nights in a darkroom, where we made our observations. We exerted a great amount of effort on this project and it was very exciting to enter this competition and win first place.”
Ms. Armona Brandl, a Technion graduate and Chief DIRCM System Engineer at Elbit Systems, Elop described at the conference the C-MUSIC™ (Commercial Multi-Spectral Infrared Countermeasure) PROGRAM, an anti-missile system developed by Elbit to protect civilian aircrafts from heat seeking ground to air missiles. The program was launched following a shooting at an Arkia plane taking off at the airport in Mombasa, Kenya, on the 28th of November, 2002. Two shoulder missiles were fired at the aircraft and both missed the target, but this event was a major turning point with regards to the threat civilian aircrafts may be under. “The program was launched in 2009. Our system, based on advanced fiber laser technology, is designed to protect aircrafts at takeoff and landing. Military defense systems against anti-aircraft missiles were available before, but the adjustment to the civilian market is very complicated due to various aspects such as budget, weight, safety and civil aviation regulations.”
The innovative laser system by Elbit Systems is based on the identification of a missile threat and the launching of laser radiation that throws the missile off its course within minutes. The first test flight, held in July 2013, was a success.
“The Faculty of Aerospace Engineering was the first department to open its doors on Technion’s current campus (on Mount Carmel),” related Technion President, Professor Peretz Lavie, who gave the opening remarks on the second day of the conference. “At the time, the press mocked us and asked: ‘What will they fly over the Carmel – kites?’ Today there is no doubt that this was an excellent decision, for out of here came out the people who founded this field in Israel, and who made it into a source of enormous national pride.
The 54th Israel Annual Conference on Aerospace Sciences attracted some 500 engineers, scientists and experts in the field of aerospace from Israel and abroad. The paper committee chair, Professor Daniella Raveh from the Technion’s Faculty of Aerospace Engineering related that participants at the conference were exposed to new research findings, the latest technological achievements, and future developments. The conference was organized by the Technion, Tel Aviv University, Ben Gurion University, Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael, Israel Military Industries, Elbit, Israel Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Israel Defense Ministry.
Pictures:
- The winning student project: Flight features of a hummingbird at the shedding stages of its feathers. The image is of an experimental system: the wings of a hummingbird printed using a three-dimensional printer on plastic material revolving in water; one can see the wing tip vortices immediately at the end of the movement.
Photo taken by: Noam Neeman.
- Professor Daniel Scheeres and Ms. Armona Brandl at the conference.
Photo taken by: Shiatzo Photography Services, Technion’s Spokesperson’s Office.