Touching an Asteroid - mechanics of interaction

Abstract

Any operations on asteroids that are not remote need to interact mechanically with the surface material, and for resource utilization possibly with the subsurface. For controlled landing of any spacecraft the surface mechanical properties are crucial; for extraction e.g. of a boulder, the strength properties are relevant as is for successful anchoring of any machinery or astronauts. Debris clouds (ejecta or shattered material) may be lofted for long times in an micro‐g environment, thus impeding robotic and human operations. We give an overview about what we believe to know and what we don’t .