Mission Analysis for Sample Retrieval from a Primitive Near-Earth Asteroid

Abstract

Reported in this paper are the results of a mission analysis conducted for an asteroid exploration mission. Following the results obtained from HAYABUSA, a Japanese asteroid explorer, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has started studying the possibility of the next asteroid exploration mission. The mission studied gives priority to the “early” retrieval of a sample from an asteroid with a primitive composition. Therefore, the design of the spacecraft follows that of the HAYABUSA, basically as it is, and the spacecraft is planned to be launched early in the next decade. The objective of the mission analysis is to design a mission sequence which has a launch window early in the next decade, is feasible utilizing a HAYABUSA-type spacecraft, and whose target asteroid complies with the scientific objectives. The results include the selection of the target asteroid, the design of the nominal mission sequence, and the alternative sequence to overcome the drawbacks of the nominal sequence.