We have published a new original paper about asteroid sample collection missions in Acta Astronautica. This work shows an in-depth analysis to find the best targets for in-orbit sample collection missions. To do so, we focus on the macroscopic properties of the asteroids (i.e., density and size) and analyse a series of possible materials. In addition, we consider the “cost” of the mission to reach the asteroids in terms of needed propellant. The results of the analysis show that tens and hundreds of asteroids can be targeted for the envisaged mission scenario. Additionally, we also rank the asteroids to give priority to future mission studies.
The highlights of the paper are:
- A novel mission concept for in-orbit sample collection at asteroids
- Identification and analysis of collection strategies
- Ranking of most suitable targets among Near-Earth Asteroids
- Preliminary mission risk assessment from particle impacts
If you are interested in this work, you can find the paper OpenAccess HERE.