Moon Search Algorithms for NASA's Dawn Mission to Asteroid Vesta

TL;DR

This paper discusses computational methods and tools used in searching for natural satellites around asteroid Vesta during NASA's Dawn mission, aiming to enhance satellite detection techniques for future missions.

Contribution

It introduces the satellite search problem, reviews computational challenges and approaches, and shares applications of image processing algorithms for satellite detection in space missions.

Findings

Development of image processing algorithms for satellite detection

Identification of computational challenges in satellite search

Application of tools to improve satellite search accuracy

Abstract

A moon or natural satellite is a celestial body that orbits a planetary body such as a planet, dwarf planet, or an asteroid. Scientists seek understanding the origin and evolution of our solar system by studying moons of these bodies. Additionally, searches for satellites of planetary bodies can be important to protect the safety of a spacecraft as it approaches or orbits a planetary body. If a satellite of a celestial body is found, the mass of that body can also be calculated once its orbit is determined. Ensuring the Dawn spacecraft's safety on its mission to the asteroid (4) Vesta primarily motivated the work of Dawn's Satellite Working Group (SWG) in summer of 2011. Dawn mission scientists and engineers utilized various computational tools and techniques for Vesta's satellite search. The objectives of this paper are to 1) introduce the natural satellite search problem, 2) present the computational challenges, approaches, and tools used when addressing this problem, and 3) describe applications of various image processing and computational algorithms for performing satellite searches to the electronic imaging and computer science community. Furthermore, we hope that this communication would enable Dawn mission scientists to improve their satellite search algorithms and tools and be better prepared for performing the same investigation in 2015, when the spacecraft is scheduled to approach and orbit the dwarf planet (1) Ceres.