Abstract In the wake of the Chelyabinsk airburst, the defense against hazardous asteroids is becoming a topic of high interest. This work improves the gravity tractor asteroid deflection approach by tracking realistic small body shapes with tilted ion engines. An algorithm for polyhedron tracking was evaluated in a fictitious impact scenario. The simulations suggest a capability increase up to 38.2% with such improved tilting strategies. The long- and short-term effects within polyhedron tracking are illustrated. In particular, the orbital reorientation effect is influential when realistic asteroid shapes and rotations are accounted for. Also analyzed is the subject of altitude profiles, a way to tailor the gravity tractor performance, and to achieve a steering ability within the B-plane. A novel analytical solution for the classic gravity tractor is derived. It removes the simulation need for classic tractor designs to obtain comparable two body model figures. This paper corroborates that the asteroid shape can be exploited for maximum performance. Even a single engine tilt adjustment at the beginning of deflection operations yields more deflection than a fixed preset tilt.
Highlights We simulate a gravity tractor with ion engines that track a realistic asteroid shape. Feasible tilting strategies are proposed that lead to min +30% performance. A novel analytic solution for the classic gravity tractor performance is given. A single adjustment at the start of operations needs to be accommodated.
Polyhedron tracking and gravity tractor asteroid deflection
Acta Astronautica ; 104 , 1 ; 106-124
2014-07-17
19 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Polyhedron tracking and gravity tractor asteroid deflection
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