Developing Prototype Simulants for Surface Materials and Morphology of Near Earth Asteroid 2016 HO3

Xiaojing Zhang,Yuechen Luo,Fan Guo,Yuan Xiao,Qian Guo,Deyun Liu

doi:10.34133/2021/9874929

Abstract

There are a variety of applications for asteroid simulants in asteroid studies for science advances as well as technology maturation. For specific purpose, it usually requires purpose-specialized simulant. In this study, we designed and developed a set of prototype simulants as S-type asteroid surface materials analogue based on H, L, and LL ordinary chondrites’ mineralogy and terrestrial observations of near-earth asteroid 2016 HO3, which is the Chinese sample return mission target. These simulants are able to simulate morphology and reflectance characteristics of asteroid (469219) 2016 HO3 and, thus, to be used for engineering evaluation of the optical navigation system and the sampling device of the spacecraft during the mission phase. Meanwhile, these prototype simulants are easily to modify to reflect new findings on the asteroid surface when the spacecraft makes proximate observations.

Highlights

Asteroid simulants are needed in supporting space missions, developing near-earth asteroids in situ resource utilization technology, and developing planetary defense techniques
It is unrealistic to create simulants that replicate all characteristics of the target asteroids due to different geological processes on asteroids and Earth [1]
It is not clear that which Ordinary chondrite meteorites (OCs) group 2016 HO3 belongs to, and we developed three prototype simulants QLS-1, QLS-2, and QLS-3 corresponding to H, L, and LL OCs, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Asteroid simulants are needed in supporting space missions, developing near-earth asteroids in situ resource utilization technology, and developing planetary defense techniques. Observations show that small asteroids (less than kilometer-sized) are rubble piles, and up to tens of meter-sized boulders and submicron- to millimeter-sized regolith particles are exposed on their surface [3,4,5] Such a characteristic brings unexpected challenges to spacecraft when selecting landing and sampling sites, as what Hayabusa 2 and OSIRIS-Rex have encountered. This study designed and developed the morphology equivalent prototype simulants for 2016 HO3 that are with particle sizes ranging from micrometer to at least tens of centimeters The goal of these simulants is to simulate a possible rubble pile morphology and the reflectance feature of the surface of 2016 HO3 so that they can serve practical uses during the mission preparation and operation phases, such as test and evaluation of navigation system and sampling device before the actual touchdown or landing operation. QLS-3 46.9 25.6 2.8 9.7 5.7 7.2 0.3 1.6 tens of centimeters and fine particles with sizes ranging from micrometer and millimeter

Development of 2016 HO3 Simulants

Characteristics of 2016 HO3 Simulants

Application

Findings

Conclusion