Autonomous Rapid Exploration in Close-Proximity of an Asteroid

TL;DR

This paper proposes a robust autonomous guidance, navigation, and control system for asteroid exploration that reduces reliance on extensive navigation campaigns, enabling faster and more cost-effective missions.

Contribution

It introduces a paradigm shift towards robust autonomous GN extbackslash C that handles uncertainties directly, departing from conservative ground-in-the-loop architectures.

Findings

Autonomous GN extbackslash C can significantly reduce exploration time by weeks or months.

Feasibility demonstrated using existing technology and conservative assumptions.

Potential for substantial cost and time savings in future asteroid missions.

Abstract

The increasing number of space missions may overwhelm ground support infrastructure, prompting the need for autonomous deep-space guidance, navigation, and control (GN\&C) systems. These systems offer sustainable and cost-effective solutions, particularly for asteroid missions that deal with uncertain environments. This study proposes a paradigm shift from the proposals currently found in the literature for autonomous asteroid exploration, which inherit the conservative architecture from the ground-in-the-loop approach that relies heavily on reducing uncertainties before close-proximity operations. Instead, it advocates for robust guidance and control to handle uncertainties directly, without extensive navigation campaigns. From a series of conservative assumptions, we demonstrate the feasibility of this autonomous GN\&C for robotic spacecraft by using existing technology. It is shown that a bolder operational approach enables autonomous spacecraft to significantly reduce exploration time by weeks or months. This paradigm shift holds great potential for reducing costs and saving time in autonomous missions of the future.