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.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Mission Concepts and Operations for Asteroid Mitigation Involving Multiple Gravity Tractors


    Contributors:
    C. Foster (author) / J. Bellerose (author) / B. Jaroux (author) / D. Mauro (author)

    Publication date :

    2012


    Size :

    9 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English





    Mission Concepts and Operations for Asteroid Mitigation Involving Multiple Gravity Tractors

    Foster, Cyrus / Bellerose, Julie / Jaroux, Belgacem et al. | NTRS | 2012



    Asteroid Redirect Mission Proximity Operations for Reference Target Asteroid 2008 EV5

    Reeves, David M. / Mazanek, Daniel D. / Cichy, Benjamin D. et al. | NTRS | 2016


    The Mission Operations of HAYABUSA Asteroid Explorer

    Oshima, Takeshi / Kawaguchi, Jun’ichiro / Hagino, Shinji | AIAA | 2006