Regolith mechanics on Asteroid surfaces

Kurzfassung

Introduction: It is very likely that most aster- oids surfaces are covered by a regolith layer. We are focussing on the mechanical properties of such regolith, i.e., a granular material under micro-gravity (µ-g) conditions. Any operations on asteroids that are not remote, need to interact mechanically with the surface material, and for resource utilization possibly with also subsurface layers. For controlled land- ing of any spacecraft the surface mechanical properties are crucial; for sampling or extraction 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 a mi- cro‐g environment, thus impeding robotic and human operations including utilization of aster- oid resources. Regolith mechanical properties also influence the thermal inertia which can be remotely observed.