A Potential Aid in the Target Selection for the Comet Interceptor Mission

TL;DR

This paper proposes an expectation value-based formalism to assist in target selection decisions for the upcoming Comet Interceptor mission, which involves uncertain target identification before launch.

Contribution

It introduces a novel formalism that helps decide whether to pursue a known target or wait for a potentially better one during the mission's parking phase.

Findings

Formalism provides a systematic decision-making framework.

Applicable to mission scenarios with uncertain targets.

Enhances mission planning flexibility.

Abstract

The upcoming Comet Interceptor mission involves a parking phase around the Sun-Earth L2 point before transferring to intercept the orbit of a long period comet, interstellar object or a back-up target in the form of a short-period comet. The target is not certain to be known before the launch in 2029. During the parking phase there may thus arise a scenario wherein a decision needs to be taken of whether to go for a particular comet or whether to discard that option in the hope that a better target will appear within a reasonable time frame later on. We present an expectation value-based formalism that could aid in the associated decision making provided that outlined requirements for its implementation exist.