The previous two chapters are now applied to the specific problem of orbital mechanics about a small body. For definiteness we focus on the asteroid Itokawa (with a mean radius of 160 meters), for which a shape model, rotation state and mass is available. Itokawa was visited by the Hayabusa spacecraft which collected samples from that body before its successful return to Earth in June 2010. That spacecraft did not enter sustained orbit about the asteroid, but instead implemented a hovering approach for all close proximity dynamics. Still, it is a question of practical interest whether such an orbital approach could have been implemented at such a small body. In this chapter we apply the theories outlined previously and derive approximate limits for minimum orbit radii about such bodies. A general overall question which this analysis poses is whether there are minimum size limits on an asteroid beyond which it cannot be orbited. This question was recently investigated by Shupe [177], where for a spacecraft modeled after the Orion crewed vehicle it was found that the main barrier to achieving stable orbit was not solar radiation pressure but the central-body gravity field and shape, and the size and shape of the orbiting spacecraft.


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    Title :

    Small Bodies: Asteroid 25143 Itokawa


    Additional title:

    Springer Praxis Books (formerly: Springer-Praxis Series)


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2012-03-20


    Size :

    12 pages





    Type of media :

    Article/Chapter (Book)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English






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