The lift-off velocity is defined as the velocity at which a particle, moving tangentially on the surface of some arbitrary body, will lift off from that surface and enter orbit. A vectorial expression for this velocity was previously derived for dimensionless particles. This theory is extended to be applicable to surface exploration craft with some finite size that are envisioned for missions to the small bodies of our solar system. For realistic mission scenarios, the lift-off velocity is shown to be independent of the craft size, and to depend strongly on the radius of curvature of the target body; this velocity is useful in the operational design of surface craft. A similar expression is derived for the case of motion on a ridge or asperity, in which the lift-off velocity becomes independent of the surface curvature. This second case has implications to the friction force experienced by a surface vehicle or rock. A methodology is developed to compute the curvature of a spherical-harmonic shape model; an established method that yields the curvature of a vertex-facet model is reviewed. The two methods are then applied to compute the lift-off-velocity distributions on the surfaces of asteroids KW4 Alpha, Bennu, and Eros. Presented at the 26th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, Napa, CA, 15-18 February 2016


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    Title :

    Lift-Off Velocity on Solar-System Small Bodies


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2017




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English



    Classification :

    BKL:    55.54 Flugführung
    Local classification TIB:    770/7040



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