Grimm, Christian and Grundmann, Jan Thimo and Hendrikse, Jeffrey and Lange, Caroline and Ziach, Christian and Ho, Tra-Mi (2018) From Idea to Flight - A Review of the MASCOT Development and a Comparison to Historical Fast-Paced Space Programs. Progress in Aerospace Sciences (104), pp. 20-39. Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.paerosci.2018.11.001. ISBN 0376-0421. ISSN 0376-0421.
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Official URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376042118301222?via%3Dihub
Abstract
Now spanning a time frame of already 10 years, the plan to land a European Lander on an asteroid has finally been accomplished. The first idea was established around 2008 in the framework of the European Marco Polo Assessment, studying the possibility to collect a pristine sample of a Near-Earth Asteroid and returning it back to Earth. The lander named MASCOT (Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout) was proposed to be carried by the main spacecraft, to land on the surface and by the ability to relocate to investigate multiple surface locations in order to scout the best possible sampling site. After the discontinuation of the original study, MASCOT received an invitation from JAXA to join-in the Hayabusa2 mission, the direct follow-up of the first asteroid sampler Hayabusa. However, MASCOT was selected at a time (mid 2011) when its conceptual design and scientific payloads had not been fully defined; with the carrier spacecraft already in its critical design phase having most of its interfaces fixed; no heritage to use off-the-shelf bus equipment directly and only 3 years left until a proposed final delivery. The tight schedule, tightly defined envelope, and strict margins policy were challenges during its development at all levels. Nevertheless, Hayabusa2 and MASCOT were launched on December 3rd, 2014, and arrived at their destined target asteroid (162173) Ryugu on June 27, 2018. Finally, MASCOT was separated from its mother spacecraft and successfully landed on October 3rd, 2018, accomplishing the first ever landing of a European spacecraft on the surface of an asteroid. This paper provides a review of the performed MASCOT development process including its verification strategy from the first unit hardware test to the final check-out before launch. In addition, it also provides a historical comparison to former fast-paced programs in space.
Item URL in elib: | https://elib.dlr.de/122168/ | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Document Type: | Article | |||||||||||||||||||||
Title: | From Idea to Flight - A Review of the MASCOT Development and a Comparison to Historical Fast-Paced Space Programs | |||||||||||||||||||||
Authors: |
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Date: | 11 December 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Progress in Aerospace Sciences | |||||||||||||||||||||
Refereed publication: | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||
Open Access: | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gold Open Access: | No | |||||||||||||||||||||
In SCOPUS: | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||
In ISI Web of Science: | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||
DOI : | 10.1016/j.paerosci.2018.11.001 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Page Range: | pp. 20-39 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: | Elsevier | |||||||||||||||||||||
ISSN: | 0376-0421 | |||||||||||||||||||||
ISBN: | 0376-0421 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Status: | Published | |||||||||||||||||||||
Keywords: | Hayabusa2, MASCOT, Asteroid Lander, Satellite Manufacturing, Concurrent AIV, Skunk Works, Faster Better Cheaper | |||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Research field: | Aeronautics, Space and Transport | |||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Program: | Space | |||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Program Themes: | Space Exploration | |||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Research area: | Raumfahrt | |||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Program: | R EW - Space Exploration | |||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Research theme (Project): | Project MASCOT (Instruments) (old) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Location: | Bremen | |||||||||||||||||||||
Institutes and Institutions: | Institute of Space Systems > Land and Exploration Technology Institute of Space Systems > Systems Engineering and Project Office | |||||||||||||||||||||
Deposited By: | Grimm, Christian | |||||||||||||||||||||
Deposited On: | 13 Oct 2018 12:44 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Last Modified: | 14 Nov 2019 09:07 |
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