Mission Concept For In-Situ Characterization Of Multiple Near-earth Objects

Details Mission Concept For In-Situ Characterization Of Multiple Near-earth Objects Mission Concept For In-Situ Characterization Of Multiple Near-earth Objects

May 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007aas...210.8613e&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society Meeting 210, #86.13; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 39, p.197

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Scientific paper

The need for scientific investigation of asteroids and comets known as Near Earth Objects has become more compelling as the population of known objects increases, and as concerns about possible collision threats get the attention of policy makers and the public. Space missions, especially those that include rendezvous and even landing, provide opportunities for the most detailed measurements. However, space missions are expensive, and there are many potentially interesting NEOs. We are developing a mission concept that may enable a cost-effective approach to in-situ investigations of many objects. A modest size spacecraft equipped with solar-electric propulsion and a small but capable instrument suite, could approach, orbit and study three or four objects, including the deployment of a small landing pod for surface studies. The capabilities of even a small EELV could allow three or more such spacecraft to be launched at one time. Our study indicates that the population of known NEOs includes plenty of candidates whose orbital elements would allow such an approach, that SEP can provide sufficient “delta V” for multiple visits, and that an instrument suite can be built to provide imaging, spectroscopy and other diagnostic measurements in a mass and volume-efficient package. Such a mission could provide detailed characterization of twelve objects.

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