Asteroid Retrieval Missions Enabled by Invariant Manifold Dynamics
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Spacewalch Discovery of Near-Earth Asteroids Tom Gehrele Lunar End
N9 Spacewalch Discovery of Near-Earth Asteroids Tom Gehrele Lunar end Planetary Laboratory The University of Arizona Our overall scientific goal is to survey the solar system to completion -- that is, to find the various populations and to study their statistics, interrelations, and origins. The practical benefit to SERC is that we are finding Earth-approaching asteroids that are accessible for mining. Our system can detect Earth-approachers In the 1-km size range even when they are far away, and can detect smaller objects when they are moving rapidly past Earth. Until Spacewatch, the size range of 6 - 300 meters in diameter for the near-Earth asteroids was unexplored. This important region represents the transition between the meteorites and the larger observed near-Earth asteroids (Rabinowitz 1992). One of our Spacewatch discoveries, 1991 VG, may be representative of a new orbital class of object. If it is really a natural object, and not man-made, its orbital parameters are closer to those of the Earth than we have seen before; its delta V is the lowest of all objects known thus far (J. S. Lewis, personal communication 1992). We may expect new discoveries as we continue our surveying, with fine-tuning of the techniques. III-12 Introduction The data accumulated in the following tables are the result of continuing observation conducted as a part of the Spacewatch program. T. Gehrels is the Principal Investigator and also one of the three observers, with J.V. Scotti and D.L Rabinowitz, each observing six nights per month. R.S. McMillan has been Co-Principal Investigator of our CCD-scanning since its inception; he coordinates optical, mechanical, and electronic upgrades. -
Asteroid Retrieval Feasibility Study
Publications 4-2-2012 Asteroid Retrieval Feasibility Study John Brophy California Institute of Technology Fred Culick California Institute of Technology Louis Friedman The Planetary Society Pedro Llanos Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach, [email protected] et al. Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.erau.edu/publication Part of the Astrodynamics Commons, Space Vehicles Commons, and the The Sun and the Solar System Commons Scholarly Commons Citation Brophy, J., Culick, F., Friedman, L., Llanos, P., & al., e. (2012). Asteroid Retrieval Feasibility Study. , (). Retrieved from https://commons.erau.edu/publication/893 This Report is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Publications by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Asteroid Retrieval Feasibility Study 2 April 2012 Prepared for the: Keck Institute for Space Studies California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory Pasadena, California 1 2 Authors and Study Participants NAME Organization E-Mail Signature John Brophy Co-Leader / NASA JPL / Caltech [email protected] Fred Culick Co-Leader / Caltech [email protected] Co -Leader / The Planetary Louis Friedman [email protected] Society Carlton Allen NASA JSC [email protected] David Baughman Naval Postgraduate School [email protected] NASA ARC/Carnegie Mellon Julie Bellerose [email protected] University Bruce Betts The Planetary Society -
An Ongoing Effort to Identify Near-Earth Asteroid Destination
The Near-Earth Object Human Space Flight Accessible Targets Study: An Ongoing Effort to Identify Near-Earth Asteroid Destinations for Human Explorers Presented to the 2013 IAA Planetary Defense Conference Brent W. Barbee∗, Paul A. Abelly, Daniel R. Adamoz, Cassandra M. Alberding∗, Daniel D. Mazanekx, Lindley N. Johnsonk, Donald K. Yeomans#, Paul W. Chodas#, Alan B. Chamberlin#, Victoria P. Friedensenk NASA/GSFC∗ / NASA/JSCy / Aerospace Consultantz NASA/LaRCx / NASA/HQk / NASA/JPL# April 16th, 2013 Introduction I Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) are asteroids and comets with perihelion distance < 1.3 AU I Small, usually rocky bodies (occasionally metallic) I Sizes range from a few meters to ≈ 35 kilometers I Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) are currently candidate destinations for human space flight missions in the mid-2020s th I As of April 4 , 2013, a total of 9736 NEAs have been discovered, and more are being discovered on a continual basis 2 Motivations for NEA Exploration I Solar system science I NEAs are largely unchanged in composition since the early days of the solar system I Asteroids and comets may have delivered water and even the seeds of life to the young Earth I Planetary defense I NEA characterization I NEA proximity operations I In-Situ Resource Utilization I Could manufacture radiation shielding, propellant, and more I Human Exploration I The most ambitious journey of human discovery since Apollo I NEAs as stepping stones to Mars 3 NHATS Background I NASA's Near-Earth Object Human Space Flight Accessible Targets Study (NHATS) (pron.: /næts/) began in September of 2010 under the auspices of the NASA Headquarters Planetary Science Mission Directorate in cooperation with the Advanced Exploration Systems Division of the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate. -
Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) Scout
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20160007060 2019-08-08T05:23:13+00:00Z Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) Scout Les Johnson NASA MSFC Advance Concepts Office [email protected] Topics • What is a solar sail? • A brief history of solar sailing • NASA’s Near Earth Asteroid Scout mission How does a solar sail work? Solar sails use photon “pressure” or force on thin, lightweight reflective sheet to produce thrust. 3 Topics • What is a solar sail? • A brief history of solar sailing • NASA’s Near Earth Asteroid Scout mission The Planetary Society’s Cosmos-1 (2005) • 100 kg spacecraft • 8 triangular sail blades deployed from a central hub after launch by the inflating of structural tubes. • Sail blades were each 15 m long • Total surface area of 600 square meters • Launched in 2005 from a Russian Volna Rocket from a Russian Delta III submarine in the Barents Sea: The Planetary Society’s Cosmos-1 (2005) • 100 kg spacecraft • 8 triangular sail blades deployed from a central hub after launch by the inflating of structural tubes. • Sail blades were each 15 m long • Total surface area of 600 square meters • Launched in 2005 from a Russian Volna Rocket from a Russian Delta III submarine in the Barents Sea: Rocket Failed NASA Ground Tested Solar Sails in the Mid-2000’s Two 400 square meter sail were autonomously deployed and tested at Plumbrook NanoSail-D Demonstration Solar Sail Mission Description: • 10 m2 sail • Made from tested ground demonstrator hardware NanoSail-D2 Mission (2010) Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation of the Sun (IKAROS) -
1 ABSTRACT Aside from the Exploration of Mars, the Objects That
IAC-07-B3.5.06 INTO THE BEYOND: A CREWED MISSION TO A NEAR-EARTH OBJECT David J. Korsmeyer, NASA Ames Research Center, Intelligent Systems Division, Moffett Field, CA, USA, [email protected] Rob R. Landis, NASA Johnson Space Center, Mission Operations Directorate, Houston, TX, USA [email protected] Paul A. Abell, NASA Johnson Space Center, Astromaterials Research & Exploration Science, Houston, TX, USA [email protected] ABSTRACT utility and opportunities for the developing Aside from the exploration of Mars, the Constellation infrastructure, particularly, the objects that most capture our interest for a Ares Launch vehicles and the Orion crewed new human visit are the Near-Earth Objects spacecraft, to be used for missions that were (NEOs). These objects are ideal candidates not directly in the design specifications (aka for deep space operations and explorations as non-lunar missions). The Ares and Orion we extend the human presence out into the systems are designed to launch 4-6 crew to solar system. The notion of a crewed mission the International Space Station (ISS), and to to a NEO was first discussed in the Apollo eventually take 4 crew back to lunar orbit era. The most recent assessment has been where a lunar lander would take the crew to undertaken by the Advanced Projects Office the surface. within NASA’s Constellation Program. This particular study examined the feasibility of The NASA Constellation Program wanted to sending NASA’s new Orion spacecraft (also understand what are some other feasible, referred to as the Crew Exploration Vehicle, high-value uses of the Orion spacecraft and or CEV) to a NEO. -
Asteroid Retrieval Mission Concept – Trailblazing Our Future in Space and Helping to Protect Us from Earth Impactors
Asteroid Retrieval Mission Concept – Trailblazing Our Future in Space and Helping to Protect Us from Earth Impactors Presented by Dan Mazanek1 Co-authors: John Brophy2 and Gabe Merrill1 1NASA Langley Research Center; 2Jet Propulsion Laboratory April 16, 2013 2013 Planetary Defense Conference Flagstaff, USA Paper No: IAA-PDC13-04-14 1 Background The idea of utilizing asteroidal resources is not new • 1903 – Konstantin Tsiolkovskii included the concept of using asteroids for resources in his most famous publication, The Exploration of Cosmic Space by Means of Reaction Motors • 1977 – NASA’s Dr. Brian O’Leary proposed using mass drivers to move Earth- approaching Apollo and Amor asteroids to Earth’s vicinity • 1997 – Dr. John S. Lewis detailed how we can extract the vast resources available from our solar system in the influential book Mining the Sky: Untold Riches from the Asteroids, Comets, and Planets September 2011 and February 2012 – Asteroid Retrieval Mission (ARM) Study at Caltech’s Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) • Examined the feasibility of returning a small (~7 m diameter) near-Earth asteroid (NEA), or part of a large NEA, to cislunar space • Utilize robotic 50 kW-class solar electric propulsion (SEP) vehicle and currently available technologies (40 kW available to the electric propulsion system) • John Brophy (Co-Leader along with Louis Friedman and Fred Culick) and Dan Mazanek were KISS ARM study members 2 Recent Events Recent events have elevated the public’s awareness of the potential of space resources and have -
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Planetary Astronomy Program
FRS 347320 FINAL REPORT FOR GRANT NAG5-3938 SUBMITTED TO: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Planetary Astronomy Program TITLE: Beginning Research with the 1.8-meter Spacewatch Telescope ORGANIZATION: The University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory PERIOD OF GRANT: 1996 Dec. 1 - 2000 Nov. 30 PERIOD REPORTED ON: 1996 Dec. I - 2001 Feb. 9 2._o[ PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Tom Gehrels Date Professor Lunar and Planetary Laboratory University of Arizona Kuiper Space Sciences Building 1629 East University Boulevard Tucson, AZ 85721-0092 Phone: 520/621-6970 FAX: 520/621-1940 Email: [email protected] BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE: Ms. Lynn A. Lane Senior Business Manager Lunar and Planetary Laboratory University of Arizona Kuiper Space Sciences Building 1629 East University Boulevard Tucson, AZ 85721-0092 Phone: 520/621-6966 FAX: 520/621-4933 Email: [email protected] c:_w_nnsaknag53938.fnl Participating Professionals (all at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory): Terrence H. Bressi (B. S., Astron. & Physics) Engineer Anne S. Descour (M. S., Computer Science) Senior Systems Programmer Tom Gehrels (Ph. D., Astronomy) Professor, observer, and PI Robert Jedicke (Ph.D., Physics) Principal Research Specialist Jeffrey A. Larsen (Ph. D., Astronomy) Principal Research Specialist and observer Robert S. McMiUan (Ph.D., Astronomy) Associate Research Scientist & observer Joseph L. Montani (M. S., Astronomy) Senior Research Specialist and observer Marcus L. Perry (B. A., Astronomy) (Chief) Staff Engineer James V. Scotti (B. S., Astronomy) Senior Research Specialist and observer PROJECT SUMMARY The purpose of this grant was to bring the Spacewatch 1.8-m telescope to operational status for research on asteroids and comets. -
Why Atens Enjoy Enhanced Accessibility for Human Space Flight
(Preprint) AAS 11-449 WHY ATENS ENJOY ENHANCED ACCESSIBILITY FOR HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT Daniel R. Adamo* and Brent W. Barbee† Near-Earth objects can be grouped into multiple orbit classifications, among them being the Aten group, whose members have orbits crossing Earth's with semi-major axes less than 1 astronomical unit. Atens comprise well under 10% of known near-Earth objects. This is in dramatic contrast to results from recent human space flight near-Earth object accessibility studies, where the most favorable known destinations are typically almost 50% Atens. Geocentric dynamics explain this enhanced Aten accessibility and lead to an understanding of where the most accessible near-Earth objects reside. Without a com- prehensive space-based survey, however, highly accessible Atens will remain largely un- known. INTRODUCTION In the context of human space flight (HSF), the concept of near-Earth object (NEO) accessibility is highly subjective (Reference 1). Whether or not a particular NEO is accessible critically depends on mass, performance, and reliability of interplanetary HSF systems yet to be designed. Such systems would cer- tainly include propulsion and crew life support with adequate shielding from both solar flares and galactic cosmic radiation. Equally critical architecture options are relevant to NEO accessibility. These options are also far from being determined and include the number of launches supporting an HSF mission, together with whether consumables are to be pre-emplaced at the destination. Until the unknowns of HSF to NEOs come into clearer focus, the notion of relative accessibility is of great utility. Imagine a group of NEOs, each with nearly equal HSF merit determined from their individual characteristics relating to crew safety, scientific return, resource utilization, and planetary defense. -
Orders of Magnitude (Length) - Wikipedia
03/08/2018 Orders of magnitude (length) - Wikipedia Orders of magnitude (length) The following are examples of orders of magnitude for different lengths. Contents Overview Detailed list Subatomic Atomic to cellular Cellular to human scale Human to astronomical scale Astronomical less than 10 yoctometres 10 yoctometres 100 yoctometres 1 zeptometre 10 zeptometres 100 zeptometres 1 attometre 10 attometres 100 attometres 1 femtometre 10 femtometres 100 femtometres 1 picometre 10 picometres 100 picometres 1 nanometre 10 nanometres 100 nanometres 1 micrometre 10 micrometres 100 micrometres 1 millimetre 1 centimetre 1 decimetre Conversions Wavelengths Human-defined scales and structures Nature Astronomical 1 metre Conversions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orders_of_magnitude_(length) 1/44 03/08/2018 Orders of magnitude (length) - Wikipedia Human-defined scales and structures Sports Nature Astronomical 1 decametre Conversions Human-defined scales and structures Sports Nature Astronomical 1 hectometre Conversions Human-defined scales and structures Sports Nature Astronomical 1 kilometre Conversions Human-defined scales and structures Geographical Astronomical 10 kilometres Conversions Sports Human-defined scales and structures Geographical Astronomical 100 kilometres Conversions Human-defined scales and structures Geographical Astronomical 1 megametre Conversions Human-defined scales and structures Sports Geographical Astronomical 10 megametres Conversions Human-defined scales and structures Geographical Astronomical 100 megametres 1 gigametre -
Opportunities for Asteroid Retrieval Missions
Opportunities for Asteroid Retrieval Missions Pre-print proof-reading copy. The final publication is available at: http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-39244-3_21 D. García Yárnoz, J.P. Sanchez, C.R. McInnes Advanced Space Concepts Laboratory, University of Strathclyde, UK. Abstract Asteroids and comets are of strategic importance for science in an effort to uncover the formation, evolution and composition of the Solar System. Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) are of particular interest because of their ac- cessibility from Earth, but also because of their speculated wealth of mate- rial resources. The exploitation of these resources has long been discussed as a means to lower the cost of future space endeavours. In this chapter, we analyze the possibility of retrieving entire objects from accessible helio- centric orbits and moving them into the Earth’s neighbourhood. The aster- oid retrieval transfers are sought from the continuum of low energy trans- fers enabled by the dynamics of invariant manifolds; specifically, the retrieval transfers target planar, vertical Lyapunov and halo orbit families associated with the collinear equilibrium points of the Sun-Earth Circular Restricted Three Body problem. The judicious use of these dynamical fea- tures provides the best opportunity to find extremely low energy transfers for asteroidal material. With the objective to minimise transfer costs, a global search of impulsive transfers connecting the unperturbed asteroid’s orbit with the stable manifold phase of the transfer is performed. A cata- logue of asteroid retrieval opportunities of currently known NEOs is pre- sented here. Despite the highly incomplete census of very small asteroids, the catalogue can already be populated with 12 different objects retrievable with less than 500 m/s of Δv. -
THE ASTEROIDS and THEIR DISCOVERERS Rock Legends
PAUL MURDIN THE ASTEROIDS AND THEIR DISCOVERERS Rock Legends The Asteroids and Their Discoverers More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/4097 Paul Murdin Rock Legends The Asteroids and Their Discoverers Paul Murdin Institute of Astronomy University of Cambridge Cambridge , UK Springer Praxis Books ISBN 978-3-319-31835-6 ISBN 978-3-319-31836-3 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-31836-3 Library of Congress Control Number: 2016938526 © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifi cally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfi lms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specifi c statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Cover design: Frido at studio escalamar Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland Acknowledgments I am grateful to Alan Fitzsimmons for taking and supplying the picture in Fig. -
The “Horseshoe” Orbit of Near-Earth Object 2013 BS45 DANIEL R
Page 20 Astrodynamics The “Horseshoe” Orbit of Near-Earth Object 2013 BS45 DANIEL R. ADAMO, ASTRODYNAMICS CONSULTANT 1. Earth-Based Discovery million km) on 12 February inbound towards the Sun. It 2013. reaches perihelion on 29 April Discovered by the Space- 2013 at 0.92 AU or 92% of watch 1.8 m telescope (see As is typical among NEO Earth’s mean distance from Figure 1) on 20 January 2013, discoveries made in the night the Sun. Figure 2 is a plot of near-Earth object (NEO) 2013 sky prior to closest Earth ap- 2013 BS45, Earth, and Mars as BS45 closely encountered proach with observations of they orbit the Sun during Earth at a range of 0.0126 AU our planet’s night sky, 2013 2013. (4.9 lunar distances or 1.88 BS45 crosses Earth’s orbit Figure 1. The 1.8 m Space- watch telescope is pictured inside its protective dome at Kitt Peak, Arizona (photograph by Robert S. McMillan). Figure 2. Orbits of 2013 BS45 (blue), Earth (green), and Mars (red) are plotted during year 2013 in a non-rotating (inertial) Sun-centered (heliocentric) coordinate system. The plot plane coincides with that of Earth’s orbit, the ecliptic, and 2013 BS45’s orbit is inclined to the ecliptic by less than 1°. Before moving into Earth’s BS45 ephemerides with maxi- planetary radar observations daytime sky circa 9 February mum position uncertainties conducted at Goldstone, CA 2013, about 80 optical obser- equivalent to hundreds of had reduced this uncertainty vations were being processed minutes in heliocentric mo- to the order of 10 minutes.