NExT and EPOXI (DIXI), the next steps in Comet Exploration

Details NExT and EPOXI (DIXI), the next steps in Comet Exploration NExT and EPOXI (DIXI), the next steps in Comet Exploration

Dec 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007agufm.p53a0988b&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2007, abstract #P53A-0988

Mathematics

Logic

6000 Planetary Sciences: Comets And Small Bodies, 6035 Orbital And Rotational Dynamics, 6040 Origin And Evolution, 6099 General Or Miscellaneous

Scientific paper

The results of NASA's successful DS-1, Stardust, and Deep Impact explorations of comets Borrelly, Wild 2 and Tempel 1 are making cometary nuclei objects of novel geophysical interest. The unexpected diversity of surface morphology superposed on underlying similarities discovered on these underdense, icy objects suggest that the geophysical processes that operate there go far beyond those that have previously been discussed. Taking advantage of the viability of the Stardust and Deep Impact spacecraft already in heliocentric orbits, NASA will take as the next steps in this exploration by mounting the NExT and EPOXI (DIXI) missions. NExT will use the Stardust spacecraft to re- encounter Tempel 1, the target of the Deep Impact mission, and EPOXI (DIXI) will use the Deep Impact flyby spacecraft to encounter yet another periodic comet to broaden the scientific base for understanding the diversity of surface expressions discovered in the earlier missions. The NExT mission presents some unique challenges that need to be met if its full potential is to be realized. Its primary goal of elucidating the extent and nature of geological changes that occur as the comet ejects material during perihelion passage should be easily achieved. Its secondary goal of mapping the artificial crater and its debris field formed in the Deep Impact mission requires a precise rotational ephemeris for the comet nucleus. We outline research that quantifies the substantial acceleration of Tempel 1's nucleus spin that we have discovered to occur as it passes through perihelion and how we intend to model these changes. This work should ultimately provide a sufficiently accurate rotational ephemeris of the comet nucleus that will enable NExT to observe the Deep Impact crater with high probability.

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