Measurement requirements for a near-Earth asteroid impact mitigation demonstration mission

TL;DR

This paper discusses the measurement requirements for a near-Earth asteroid impact mitigation mission, emphasizing the importance of specific instruments like thermal IR spectrometers and laser altimeters to accurately assess impact effects.

Contribution

It identifies key measurement instruments and strategies needed for effective asteroid impact mitigation, focusing on the Don Quijote mission concept.

Findings

Thermal IR spectrometer is essential for measuring the Yarkovsky effect.

Solar radiation pressure can increase orbit measurement uncertainty.

A laser altimeter and wide-angle impact camera provide significant benefits.

Abstract

A concept for an Impact Mitigation Preparation Mission, called Don Quijote, is to send two spacecraft to a Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA): an Orbiter and an Impactor. The Impactor collides with the asteroid while the Orbiter measures the resulting change in the asteroid's orbit, by means of a Radio Science Experiment (RSE) carried out before and after impact. Three parallel Phase A studies on Don Quijote were carried out for the European Space Agency: the research presented here reflects outcomes of the study by QinetiQ. We discuss the mission objectives with regards to the prioritisation of payload instruments, with emphasis on the interpretation of the impact. The Radio Science Experiment is described and it is examined how solar radiation pressure may increase the uncertainty in measuring the orbit of the target asteroid. It is determined that to measure the change in orbit accurately a thermal IR spectrometer is mandatory, to measure the Yarkovsky effect. The advantages of having a laser altimeter are discussed. The advantages of a dedicated wide-angle impact camera are discussed and the field-of-view is initially sized through a simple model of the impact.