Target selection for Near-Earth Asteroids in-orbit sample collection missions

TL;DR

This paper proposes a mission concept for collecting particles from Near-Earth asteroids using a kinetic impactor and analyzes two collection strategies based on particle dynamics and asteroid properties.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach combining ejecta generation models with dynamical analysis to identify optimal asteroid targets for in-orbit particle collection.

Findings

Identified potential target asteroids based on physical properties.

Compared collection strategies exploiting L2 Lagrangian point dynamics and orbit-based collection.

Evaluated the influence of solar radiation pressure on particle trajectories.

Abstract

This work presents a mission concept for in-orbit particle collection for sampling and exploration missions towards Near-Earth asteroids. Ejecta is generated via a small kinetic impactor and two possible collection strategies are investigated: collecting the particle along the anti-solar direction, exploiting the dynamical features of the L$_2$ Lagrangian point or collecting them while the spacecraft orbits the asteroid and before they re-impact onto the asteroid surface. Combining the dynamics of the particles in the Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem perturbed by Solar Radiation Pressure with models for the ejecta generation, we identify possible target asteroids as a function of their physical properties, by evaluating the potential for particle collection.