As one of the secondary payloads on the space launch systems vehicle, the Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) Scout will demonstrate a low-cost and innovative approach to deep space reconnaissance missions. The main objective is to image and characterize a Near-Earth asteroid. The spacecraft packages a full deep space mission into the volume of a 6U CubeSat. To enable long-term sustained propulsion to the target, a solar sail is utilized as the main propulsion system. The spacecraft bus is single string, with compact avionics. Guidance and control performance meets science requirements with margin, but limited power impacts the amount of science data that can be returned, an aspect that is in part mitigated by the introduction of novel on-board data analysis software. Following in the recent footsteps of the Mars Cube One (MarCO) mission, the first deep space CubeSat demonstration, which included the infusion of the Iris radio; the NEA Scout will continue to blaze the trail for small CubeSats for interplanetary science and reconnaissance missions. This article will provide an overview of the mission, flight system design, and unique features needed for science and propulsion.


    Access

    Download


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Near-Earth Asteroid Scout Flight Mission




    Publication date :

    2020-03-01


    Size :

    6095679 byte




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Near-Earth Asteroid Scout Mission

    A. Heaton / J. Castillo-Rogez / A. Frick et al. | NTIS | 2014


    Near-Earth Asteroid Scout Mission

    Heaton, Andrew / Castillo-Rogez, Julie / Frick, Andreas et al. | NTRS | 2014


    Near Earth Asteroid Scout (NEA Scout): Mission Update

    Les Johnson / Erin Betts / Andrew Heaton et al. | NTRS


    Near Earth Asteroid Scout Mission Update

    Pruitt, Matt / Lockett, Tiffany / Matus, Joe et al. | NTRS | 2019


    Near Earth Asteroid Scout - Mission Update

    L. Johnson / E. Betts / A. Heaton et al. | NTIS | 2022