Target selection for Near-Earth Asteroids in-orbit sample collection missions
Abstract
This work presents a mission concept for in-orbit particle collection for sampling and exploration missions towards Near-Earth asteroids. Ejecta is generated via a small kinetic impactor and two possible collection strategies are investigated: collecting the particle along the anti-solar direction, exploiting the dynamical features of the L Lagrangian point or collecting them while the spacecraft orbits the asteroid and before they re-impact onto the asteroid surface. Combining the dynamics of the particles in the Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem perturbed by Solar Radiation Pressure with models for the ejecta generation, we identify possible target asteroids as a function of their physical properties, by evaluating the potential for particle collection.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2212.09497,
title = {Target selection for Near-Earth Asteroids in-orbit sample collection missions},
author = {Mirko Trisolini and Camilla Colombo and Yuichi Tsuda},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2212.09497},
year = {2022}
}