Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Scheeres, D..
Principal Data Products: Ensemble of L-maps from SPC, Spacecraft state, Asteroid pole and rotation. Secondary Products: Global topography model, inertia tensor, gravity. Composite high resolution topography. Three dimensional image maps.
We report 8510-MHz (3,5-cm) radar observations of the Earth crossing asteroid (ECA) 6489 Golevka (1991 JX) obtained between June 3 and June 15, 1995, at Goldstone, the Very Large Array and the Evpatoria (Ukraine) and Kashima (Japan) radio antennas.
Radar observations of the main-belt, M-class asteroid 216 Kleopatra reveal a dumbbell-shaped object with overall dimensions of 217 kilometers by 94 kilometers by 81 kilometers (+/-25%). The asteroid's surface properties are consistent with a regolith having a metallic composition and a porosity comparable to that of Lunar soil.
On February 14, 2000, an orbit insertion burn will place NASA's Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft (S/C) into orbit around asteroid 433 Eros.
This paper will provide preliminary plans for mission design and navigation during the last two weeks of the orbit phase, where several close passes to the surface will be incorporated to enhance the science return.
NASA's Near Earth Asteroid Rendezous (NEAR) mission is currently on course for rendezous and orbit insertion about the asteroid 433 Eros in December 1998.
This paper discusses work in progress to develop and demonstrate a set of autonomy technologies that provide teh onboard capability to redirect science observations.