AbstractThe planning of planetary missions requires the knowledge as much as possible accurate of the target. This knowledge, which cannot be obtained only by ground based observations, can be supported by theoretical modeling. This is particularly true in the case of Rosetta, a cornerstone ESA mission that will be launched in January 2003, and of its target, the comet 46P/Wirtanen. In this paper we show how, using a nucleus thermal evolution model, it is possible to foresee the temperature of the nucleus surface and the activity level along the orbit and define the range of possible values for these properties. Activity level close to the aphelion depends on the presence of CO. Surface temperatures depend on the physical properties attributed to the dust: temperatures reached by a crust mainly composed by silicatic grains differ from the temperatures reached by a crust mainly composed by organic grains.


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    Title :

    Modelling of cometary nuclei: Planetary missions preparation


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Advances in Space Research ; 31 , 12 ; 2543-2553


    Publication date :

    2003-04-23


    Size :

    11 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    Modelling of Cometary Nuclei: Planetary Missions Preparation

    Capria, M. T. / Coradini, A. / De Sanctis, M. C. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2003


    Comets and cometary missions

    Mendis, D. A. | NTRS | 1980