The gravity tractor concept is a proposed method to deflect an imminent asteroid impact through gravitational tugging over a time scale of years. In this study, we present mission scenarios and operational considerations for asteroid mitigation efforts involving multiple gravity tractors. We quantify the deflection performance improvement provided by a multiple gravity tractor campaign and assess its sensitivity to staggered launches. We next explore several proximity operation strategies to accommodate multiple gravity tractors at a single asteroid including formation-flying and mechanically-docked configurations. Finally, we utilize 99942 Apophis as an illustrative example to assess the performance of a multiple gravity tractor campaign.
Mission Concepts and Operations for Asteroid Mitigation Involving Multiple Gravity Tractors
31.03.2012
Preprint
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Mission concepts and operations for asteroid mitigation involving multiple gravity tractors
Online Contents | 2013
|DOAJ | 2019
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