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Sample-Return Missions to the Asteroid Eros

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

Alfred C. Mascy  and
John Niehoff
Alfred C. Mascy
Affiliation:
NASA Ames Research Center
John Niehoff
Affiliation:
IIT Research Institute

Extract

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Of the many asteroids that are cataloged, selection of a target planetoid was narrowed to the Mars-crossing asteroids. The main belt and Trojan asteroids are much farther away and require longer voyage times and propulsive energy to accomplish sample returns. Within the Mars-crossing group, those asteroids were surveyed that have orbits inclined less than 15°, perihelia within 0.2 AU of Earth’s orbit (and therefore require less propulsive energy), and diameters greater than 1 km (to assist terminal observation and rendezvous). Eros was chosen as representative of this class.

Type
Part III-Possible Space Missions and Future Work
Information
International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 12: Physical Studies of Minor Planets , 1971 , pp. 513 - 526
Copyright
Copyright © NASA 1971

References

Friedlander, Alan L. 1970, Solar Electric Propulsion Capabilities for Mars Surface Sample Return Missions. Internal Document,Illinois Inst. Technol. Res. Inst. Chicago.Google Scholar
Mascy, Alfred C, Dugan, Duane W., and Pitts, Samuel W. 1968, Applications of Combined Electric, High-Thrust Propulsion Systems. J. Spacecr. Rockets 5(7), 785–791.Google Scholar
Douglas Aircraft Corp. 1965,Study of Conjunction Class Manned Mars Trips-Part II. NASA CR 64119.Google Scholar
TRW, Inc. Study of a Common Solar-Electric Propulsion System for High-Energy Unmanned Missions. Contract NAS2-6040 for NASA Advanced Concepts and Missions Div., Moffett Field, Calif.Google Scholar