Novelty of the project
- Novel sample collection mission architectures
- Improved understanding of the coupling between orbital dynamics and impact physics
- Preliminary design of an in-orbit particle collection device
THE CRADLE PROJECT
Space exploration missions have always put scientists and engineers in front of difficult challenges, which have fostered innovation and cutting-edge solutions. Through these missions, we further our knowledge of the Solar System and deepen the understanding of how celestial bodies have formed.
Why studying and exploring asteroids?
Asteroids and comets carry fundamental information on the birth and evolution of our Solar System. They are rich in valuable resources such as metals, silicates, and water, which could be exploited through future asteroid mining missions, and enable long-duration mission self-sustaining. Their physical composition is varied and, in most cases, poorly understood; it can be significantly improved collecting and studying their samples. Several missions, such as Galileo and Cassini-Huygens, have visited asteroids and other small bodies; however, only few have orbited, landed, or impacted on them. Examples are JAXA missions Hayabusa and Hayabusa2, ESA mission Rosetta, and NASA mission OSIRIS-REx. Landing and touchdown on asteroids are very complex operations and introduce high risks for the mission success.
The role of the CRADLE project
In CRADLE we propose the development of an in-orbit particle collection device, to enable the collection of orbiting fragments without having to land or touchdown. These particles can be naturally ejected by the asteroid or generated by a low-energy impactor. Collecting these particles strongly relies on the spacecraft autonomy and the prediction of the particle dynamics, which can be improved my imaging the impact site and the formed crater. Thus, CRADLE aims at enabling a safer, sustainable, and autonomous exploration of asteroids.
THE PILLARS
PARTICLE DYNAMICS
- Model the dynamics of small ejected particles
- Understand effects of SRP and gravity perturbations
- Understand the effects of the Sun and other planets
- Combine the dynamics with the impact physics
EJECTA MODELLING
- Development of a distribution-based model for the ejecta characterisation
- Model the effect of both normal and olique impacts
- Study the effect of the target asteroid material and strength
SAMPLE COLLECTION
- Study the feasibility of in-orbit particle collections missions
- Identify optimal collection strategies and design collection trajectories
- Evaluate the risk for the spacecraft in performing the collection
- Perform the preliminary design of a collection device
HOST INSTITUTIONS
The host institutions of the CRADLE Project are the Politecnico di Milano, which is the main institutions, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which is the “Third Country” institution. They both play a fundamental role in the project, providing infrastructures and expertise. The contribution of JAXA is of great importance to the project as they put the project disposal their heritage in asteroid exploration missions, thus contributing to the best possible outcome of the CRADLE project.
The secondments offer the great opportunity for the project to exchange knowledge with other institution, whose expertise complement the objectives of the CRADLE project. They are short periods of intense work carried out at the premises of partner insitutions. The CRADLE project has two secondments. The first at the University of Padova, to leverage their expertise in fragmentations and hypervelocity impacts. The second, at D-Orbit, which will support the project with their expertise in small satellite missions and operations.
SECONDMENTS
