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A small mission for in situ exploration of a primitive binary near-Earth asteroid |
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| Authors: | Andrew J Ball Stephan Ulamec Bernd Dachwald Michael E Price Riccardo Nadalini Benjamin Luethi Stephen D Wolters Simon Sheridan Simon F Green John C Zarnecki Paolo D’Arrigo Karsten Seiferlin Günter Kargl Nils Goerke |
| Institution: | 1. Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute, Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK;2. DLR RB-MC, Linder Höhe 1, D-51147 Köln, Germany;3. Space Technology and Systems, Building A8, Room 1004, QinetiQ, Cody Technology Park, Ively Road, Farnborough, Hants GU14 0LX, UK;4. DLR Institut für Planetenforschung, Rutherfordstraße 2, D-12489 Berlin, Germany;5. Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland;6. EADS Astrium, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Herts SG1 2AS, UK;g Institut für Weltraumforschung, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Schmiedlstraße 6, A-8042 Graz, Austria;h Institut für Informatik VI, Universität Bonn, Römerstraße 164, D-53117 Bonn, Germany |
| Abstract: | We present a concept for a challenging in situ science mission to a primitive, binary near-Earth asteroid. A sub-400-kg spacecraft would use solar electric propulsion to rendezvous with the C-class binary asteroid (175706) 1996 FG3. A campaign of remote observations of both worlds would be followed by landing on the ∼1 km diameter primary to perform in situ measurements. The total available payload mass would be around 34 kg, allowing a wide range of measurement objectives to be addressed. This mission arose during 2004 from the activities of the ad-hoc Small Bodies Group of the DLR-led Planetary Lander Initiative. Although the particular mission scenario proposed here was not studied further per se, the experience was carried over to subsequent European asteroid mission studies, including first LEONARD and now the Marco Polo near-Earth asteroid sample return proposal for ESA’s Cosmic Vision programme. This paper may thus be of interest as much for insight into the life cycle of mission proposals as for the concept itself. |
| Keywords: | Near-Earth asteroids Space missions Interplanetary spacecraft Planetary landers |
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