Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Dec 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.6814k&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #68.14
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Inner Earth Objects (IEOs) are objects with orbits completely contained within the Earth orbit. Because of their low solar elongation they are difficult to observe from the ground. As of writing, only 10 IEOs have been positively detected by ground-based surveys, out of an estimated population of about 1000 down to a size of 100m.
An Earth-orbiting search telescope capable of observing at small angular distances from the Sun is an efficient and cost-effective tool for discovering these objects and measuring their orbits. For this reason DLR has selected AsteroidFinder as the first payload to be flown on its SSB compact satellite platform. The Phase-A study has been finished successfully, Phase B will start end of this year. The launch is planned for 2013.
The primary scientific goals of AsteroidFinder are to contribute to the understanding of the dynamical evolution of the innermost region of the Solar System and of the cratering history of the inner planets. This is achieved by estimating the IEO population, their size-frequency distribution and their orbital properties. In addition, AsteroidFinder will contribute to the assessment of the impact hazard of NEOs and provide a test platform for the space-based detection of space debris.
The mission concept consists of a 25cm wide-field telescope installed on the compact satellite bus orbiting in LEO near terminator. The telescope continuously scans the region of the sky in the range of 30° to 60° solar elongation. The 2°×2° FOV camera makes use of novel detector technology and advanced software processing to enhance the detection capability for faint objects.
Simulations of the operations and of the detection process, based on a model of a debiased NEO population (Bottke et al. 2002, Icarus 156, 399-433), indicate an expected detection rate of about 10 IEOs during one year of operation.
Behrens John
Gerene S.
Grundmann J. T.
Hahn Gerhard
Hallmann M.
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