Impact of solar radiation pressure modeling on orbital dynamics in the vicinity of binary asteroids

Abstract

Missions to asteroids are now an important component of the space exploration program of major space agencies in the world, with the goal of better understanding the formation of the Solar system and learn about their dynamics to be able to react in case of a possible collision with the Earth. As binary asteroids compose approximately 16% of near Earth asteroids, they are getting more attention from researchers. One mission is currently being planned to binary asteroid system 65803 Didymos. This mission motivates research on the dynamics of a spacecraft near a binary asteroid. Since the primary bodies of these binary systems have small masses, perturbations like the Solar Radiation Pressure (SRP) or the shape of the primary bodies have a great influence on the dynamics of a spacecraft in their vicinity. Studies that already exist on the effect of the SRP on the dynamics of a spacecraft near binary asteroid systems have mostly used low-fidelity SRP acceleration models, such as the cannonball model or simple flat plate model with a purely reflecting spacecraft. This study shows how the choice of the model influences the strength of the SRP acceleration acting on the spacecraft and how it is possible to take advantage of the choice of the nominal attitude of the spacecraft to influence how the SRP affects the spacecraft dynamics when using a more complex SRP acceleration model. Various types of trajectories are studied, with different results and conclusions.