ASTEX – A study of a mission to visit two near-Earth asteroids

Abstract

ASTEX is a recently started DLR- funded feasibility study of an in-situ exploration mission to two near-Earth asteroids (NEAs). The selected mission targets are intended to have different mineralogical compositions, more specifically one will be of a “primitive” nature, the other one will be a fragment of a differentiated asteroid. The main goals of the mission are to explore the physical, geological and mineralogical nature of the target asteroids, as well as to provide information and constraints on the formation and evolution history of the targets and of the asteroid belt as a whole. In addition, the mission may be used to develop new technologies, not only to achieve the scientific goals of this particular mission but also to study innovative technologies for future applications. Aims of the study: The primary aim of the study is to define the high-level goals of the ASTEX mission as well as to identify and to analyze mission scenarios which support these goals. The study includes: 1) The identification of potential target pairs, optimized trajectories and orbits around NEAs. 2) The identification of the optimum propulsion system. 3) The selection of the scientific strawman payload of the orbiter and lander(s). 4) The analysis of the requirements and options for the spacecraft bus and the lander system. 5) The identification of the requirements for the operational ground segment.