Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
Trajectory characteristics are described for several representative multiple asteroid flyby (MAF) missions possible in the 1970's and early 1980's, many of which are constrained to include a flyby of Ceres, the largest asteroid. It is shown that flybys of three or four asteroids are possible with spacecraft having a delta-V capability of less than 1 km per sec. The major technical problems associated with MAF missions are due to the small size and poorly known orbits of aster oids. These factors make acquisition, guidance, and science measurements difficult, especially for the very small asteroids. Yet, MAF missions are expected to provide a significant increase in knowledge of basic properties of asteroids and to lay the groundwork for more sophisticated rendezvous and sample return missions.
Keywords:
SPACE SCIENCES
Type:
AIAA PAPER 72-52
,
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Aerospace Sciences Meeting; Jan 17, 1972 - Jan 19, 1972; San Diego, CA
Format:
text
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