Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100106
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$780,000.00
Summary
A global fireball observatory. This project aims to expand the Desert Fireball Network (DFN) and build a Global Fireball Observatory. Nearly everything known about the origin and evolution of the solar system comes from analysis of meteorite falls, but scientists have almost no constraint on where they come from. This project will address this constraint by tracking hundreds of meteorite falls, and pinpointing each one’s origin in the solar system. Benefits include capitalising on the innovation ....A global fireball observatory. This project aims to expand the Desert Fireball Network (DFN) and build a Global Fireball Observatory. Nearly everything known about the origin and evolution of the solar system comes from analysis of meteorite falls, but scientists have almost no constraint on where they come from. This project will address this constraint by tracking hundreds of meteorite falls, and pinpointing each one’s origin in the solar system. Benefits include capitalising on the innovations and technologies that underpinned the DFN, and leveraging a NASA partnership for administrative support and advanced instrumentation development. Tracking for space situational awareness is also expected to benefit Australian national security.Read moreRead less
Exploring solar system origins with the Desert Fireball Network. This project aims to explore the science delivered by the Desert Fireball Network (DFN), a continent-wide facility comprising dozens of observatories across remote and regional Australia, tracking material entering the atmosphere. Meteorites record early solar system processes, but there is no constraint on where they come from. Precise orbits for recovered meteorites can solve that problem. This project will use the largest datase ....Exploring solar system origins with the Desert Fireball Network. This project aims to explore the science delivered by the Desert Fireball Network (DFN), a continent-wide facility comprising dozens of observatories across remote and regional Australia, tracking material entering the atmosphere. Meteorites record early solar system processes, but there is no constraint on where they come from. Precise orbits for recovered meteorites can solve that problem. This project will use the largest dataset of fireball orbits ever acquired, while a supercomputer imagery archive provides a way-back machine for researchers. DFN tracking of satellites, debris re-entry and overseas rocket launches directly benefits Australian national security and a mature outreach programme aims to deliver the outcomes of this research to the public.Read moreRead less