Clementine 2 (DSPSE 2)

Clementine 2 [BMDO]

Clementine 2 was a mission to fire impactors, based on anti-missile interceptors, against asteroids during fly-bys of asteroids 433 Eros and 4179 Toutatis. It was to be launched on a Taurus-1110 launch vehicle, but was cancelled in 1997. The Clementine 2 asteroid intercept mission, as with Clementine 1, would have been the most cost-effective approach to combining important technology demonstrations with real scientific missions. Data on the mechanical strength of asteroid Toutatis would have provided vital input to the construction of weapons capable of deflecting asteroids or comets on a collision course with Earth.