Browsing by Author "Granvik, Mikael"
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Item Open Access CASTAway: An asteroid main belt tour and survey(Elsevier, 2017-11-01) Bowles, Neil E.; Snodgrass, Colin; Gibbings, Alison; Sanchez, Joan-Pau; Arnold, Jessica A.; Eccleston, Paul; Andert, Tom; Probst, A.; Naletto, Giampiero; Vandaele, A. C.; de Leon, J.; Nathues, A.; Thomas, Ian R.; Thomas, Nicholas; Jorda, Laurent; Da Deppo, Vania; Haack, H.; Green, Simon F.; Carry, Benoit; Donaldson Hanna, Kerri L.; Leif Jorgensen, J.; Kereszturi, Akos; DeMeo, F. E.; Patel, Manish R.; Davies, John K.; Clarke, Fraser; Kinch, K.; Guilbert-Lepoutre, A.; Agarwal, J.; Rivkin, Andy S.; Pravec, Petr; Fornasier, Sonia; Granvik, Mikael; Jones, Rhian H.; Murdoch, Naomi; Joy, Katherine H.; Pascale, Enzo; Tecza, Matthias; Barnes, Jenny M.; Licandro, J.; Greenhagen, Benjamin T.; Calcutt, Simon B.; Marriner, C. M.; Warren, Tristram; Tosh, IanCASTAway is a mission concept to explore our Solar System’s main asteroid belt. Asteroids and comets provide a window into the formation and evolution of our Solar System and the composition of these objects can be inferred from space-based remote sensing using spectroscopic techniques. Variations in composition across the asteroid populations provide a tracer for the dynamical evolution of the Solar System. The mission combines a long-range (point source) telescopic survey of over 10,000 objects, targeted close encounters with 10–20 asteroids and serendipitous searches to constrain the distribution of smaller (e.g. 10 m) size objects into a single concept. With a carefully targeted trajectory that loops through the asteroid belt, CASTAway would provide a comprehensive survey of the main belt at multiple scales. The scientific payload comprises a 50 cm diameter telescope that includes an integrated low-resolution (R = 30–100) spectrometer and visible context imager, a thermal (e.g. 6–16 µm) imager for use during the flybys, and modified star tracker cameras to detect small (∼10 m) asteroids. The CASTAway spacecraft and payload have high levels of technology readiness and are designed to fit within the programmatic and cost caps for a European Space Agency medium class mission, while delivering a significant increase in knowledge of our Solar System.Item Open Access Icarus: In-situ monitoring of the surface degradation on a near-sun asteroid(Elsevier, 2021-05-21) Lehtinen, Tuomas; Granvik, Mikael; Bellome, Andrea; Sánchez, Joan-PauIcarus is a mission concept designed to record the activity of an asteroid during a close encounter with the Sun. The primary science goal of the mission is to unravel the nontrivial mechanism(s) that destroy asteroids on orbits with small perihelion distances. Understanding the destruction mechanism(s) allows us to constrain the bulk composition and interior structure of asteroids in general. The Icarus mission does not only aim to achieve its science goals but also functions as a technical demonstration of what a low-cost space mission can do. The proposed space segment will include a single spacecraft capable of surviving and operating in the harsh environment near the Sun. The spacecraft design relies on the heritage of missions such as Rosetta, MESSENGER, Parker Solar Probe, BepiColombo, and Solar Orbiter. The spacecraft will rendezvous with an asteroid during its perihelion passage and records the changes taking place on the asteroid’s surface. The primary scientific payload has to be capable of imaging the asteroid’s surface in high resolution using visual and near-infrared channels as well as collecting and analyzing particles that are ejected from the asteroid. The payload bay also allows for additional payloads relating to, for example, solar research. The Icarus spacecraft and the planned payloads have high technology readiness levels and the mission is aimed to fit the programmatic and cost constraints of the F1 mission (Comet Interceptor) by the European Space Agency. Considering the challenging nature of the Icarus trajectory and the fact that the next F-class mission opportunity (F2) is yet to be announced, we conclude that Icarus is feasible as an F-class mission when certain constraints such as a suitable launch configuration are met. A larger mission class, such as the M class by the European Space Agency, would be feasible in all circumstances.