Exploring small bodies: Nano- and microlander options derived from the Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout

Abstract

The MASCOT lander currently flying on-board of the Japanese Hayabusa2 spacecraft, both set to explore the C-type Near-Earth Asteroid (162173) Ryugu, is not the first, but certainly one of the more complex nanolander systems having been designed for being carried along a bigger interplanetary spacecraft. Other concepts and current missions have shown the attractiveness of the class of nanosystems now increasing its application range from Earth orbiting cubesats to interplanetary scientific exploration endeavors, from orbiting to landing missions. This paper is intended to investigate nanolander options derived based on the MASCOT lander concept. For this purpose we gather interesting target bodies and analyze their respective environmental properties as well as their influence on the nanolander design, for example the landing system, the surface mobility, the power subsystem and the communication architecture. Further, an expansion of the scientific objectives of the current MASCOT lander from geological surface scout to other scientific objectives opens a range of new possibilities. For deeper analysis on this, we provide an overview over possible alternative payloads to the ones already flying on MASCOT and analyze their influence on the system design as it is. Obviously, the experience that has been gained with MASCOT provides us with a head start for future missions, if it is properly exploited. With this paper we intend to recommend MASCOT type of nanolanders for a range of possible future applications.