As the Sun slowly becomes brighter over billions of years, one proposed far-future geoengineering idea is to gradually move Earth to a larger orbit. Could this be achieved using a carefully designed sequence of asteroid flybys?

In this computational physics project, we will investigate whether repeated gravitational encounters between Earth and asteroids could transfer enough energy and angular momentum to increase Earth’s distance from the Sun by 1%. The project will combine classical mechanics, orbital dynamics, and numerical modelling.

A central question is how much asteroid mass would be required and how efficiently energy can be transferred through gravitational slingshot manoeuvres. The student will estimate the required changes in Earth’s orbital energy and angular momentum and explore how a hypothetical “asteroid conveyor belt” might operate.

Depending on the student’s interests, the project may range from order-of-magnitude calculations to numerical simulations of asteroid encounters and orbital evolution. The emphasis is on understanding the constraints imposed by gravity and conservation laws rather than designing a practical engineering solution.

The ultimate goal is to answer a simple but fascinating question: could a sufficiently advanced civilization gradually move an entire planet?

The project focuses on first-principles estimates and simplified numerical models rather than detailed mission design.