Asteroid selection for mission opportunities

Abstract

A study to assess the present state of knowledge of asteroids as well as the rate of change of that knowledge to better identify the mission and target priorities for advanced planning of asteroidal flights in the 1980's is presented. Topics discussed include; the present state of asteroid knowledge, the scientific goals and priorities attached to asteroid exploration, the anticipated advances in knowledge over the current decade, asteroid mission consideration, and asteroid selection. Data sheets for 118 asteroids are contained. These are asteroids for which some data is available over and above orbital parameters and magnitude.