Design of a Multiple Flyby Mission to the Phaethon–Geminid Complex

Abstract

A B-type near-Earth asteroid, (3200) Phaethon, is the parent body of the Geminid meteor shower. Unlike most parent bodies of meteor showers, Phaethon is dynamically an asteroid with few cometary features. Asteroids (155140) 2005 UD and (225416) 1999 YC are likely fragments originating from Phaethon, collectively known as the Phaethon–Geminid complex. A mission to this group could provide key information on their origins and solve fundamental issues in thermal and dynamic evolution of comet–asteroid transition bodies. This study assesses the feasibility of a multiple flyby mission for Phaethon, 2005 UD, and 1999 YC by a small-class mission. The objective is to design a simple multiple flyby mission based on ballistic transfers combined with gravity-assisted maneuvers that fly by some or all members of the Phaethon–Geminid complex. The results show periodic launch opportunities to all three asteroids with the best case for Phaethon requiring less than of Earth excess velocity. No direct transfer can be made to 1999 YC with less than . However, with a gravity-assist maneuver at Mars, an Earth–Mars–1999 YC transfer requires less than . It is also found that, with a maximum of , there is not a single transfer that connects all asteroids. However, launch windows in the years 2026 and 2027 allow a flyby of Phaethon and later 2005 UD by conducting an Earth gravity-assist maneuver.