Abstract
The goal of the present paper is to search for natural trajectories that can be used to place a spacecraft to observe the triple asteroid 2001SN263. For a first set of observations mid-range distance orbits are ideal. To model this triple asteroid from a mid-range distance, it is considered that it can be modeled as a single ellipsoid body, which gives a simple mathematical model that allows on-board computation of trajectories. The mass is assumed to be equal to the sum of the masses of the three bodies and its dimensions are calculated considering the size of the orbits of Beta and Alpha. The objective is to search for orbits that can be used at the arrival time of the spacecraft in the vicinity of the triple asteroid to observe the bodies to make a better evaluation of their dimensions and dynamics before a good choice for a final orbit can be made. The two-dimensional elliptic restricted three-body problem is used as the mathematical model with the addition of the perturbations coming from the asteroid and the Sun irregular gravity fields (J2). It is also considered the disturbance caused by the solar radiation pressure, a major force near asteroids.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
NASA, NSSDCA – Solar system exploration, https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/ [Retrieved 1 May 2019]
M. Massironi, et al., Nature 526, 402 (2015)
J. Fang, J.L. Margot, M. Brozovic, M.C. Nolan, L.A.M. Benner, P.A. Taylor, Astron. J. 145, 154 (2011)
F. Braga-Ribas, et al., Nature 508, 72 (2014)
J.L. Ortiz, et al., Nature 550, 219 (2017)
Z. Zhenjiang, Y. Meng, C. Hutao, C. Pingyuan, IPCSIT 53, 135 (2012)
L.B.T. dos Santos, A.F.B. de Almeida Prado, D.M. Sanchez, Astrophys. Space Sci. 362, 202 (2017)
ESA, Rosetta, http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta [Retrieved 1 May 2019]
S. Lowry, et al., Astron. Astrophys. 548, A12 (2012)
R.A.N. Araujo, O.C. Winter, A.F.B.A. Prado, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 449, 4404 (2015)
R.A.N. Araujo, O.C. Winter, A.F.B.A. Prado, A. Sukhanov, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 423, 3073 (2012)
B.Y.P.L. Masago, A.F.B.A. Prado, A.P.M. Chiaradia, V.M. Gomes, Adv. Space Res. 57, 962 (2016)
A. Sukhanov, H. Velho, E. Macau, O.C. Winter, Cosmic Res. 48, 443 (2010)
A. Sukhanov, A.F.B.A. Prado, Adv. Space Res. 50, 1478 (2012)
S. Da Silva Fernandes, W.A. Golfetto, Math. Probl. Eng. 2007, 23 (2007)
S. Geffroy, R. Epenoy, Acta Astronaut. 41, 133 (1997)
B.N. Kiforenko, Int. Appl. Mech. 41, 1211 (2005)
A.F.B.A. Prado, G. De Felipe, Adv. Space Res. 40, 102 (2007)
A. Rossi, F. Marzari, P. Farinella, Earth Planets Space 51, 1173 (1999)
V. Szebehely, Theory of orbits (Academic Press, New York, 1967)
D.M. Sanchez, T. Yokoyama, P.I.O. Brasil, R.R. Cordeiro, S.M.G. Winter, Math. Probl. Eng. 2009, 15 (2009)
O. Montenbruck, E. Gill, Satellite orbits (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2001), pp. 77–79
A.F.B.A. Prado, Adv. Space Res. 53, 877 (2014)
D.M. Sanchez, A.F.B.A. Prado, T. Yokoyama, Adv. Space Res. 54, 1008 (2014)
M.P.O. Cavalca, A.F.B.A. Prado, J.K.S. Formiga, V.M. Gomes, J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 911, 012008 (2017)
M.P.O. Cavalca, A.F.B.A. Prado, J.K.S. Formiga, V.M. Gomes, D.M. Sanchez, Rev. Mex. Astron. Astrofis. 54, 729 (2018)
NASA. Sun fact sheet, https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/sunfact.html [Retrieved 1 May 2019]
G. Obrecht, Exploration of optimal orbits in the strongly perturbed environment of the 2001SN263 triple asteroid system, Master thesis Report, Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Holand, 2016, p. 9
A.F.B.A. Prado, Math. Probl. Eng. 2013, 1 (2013)
D.M. Sanchez, A.F.B.A. Prado, T. Yokoyama, Adv. Space Res. 54, 1008 (2014)
D.M. Sanchez, A.F.B.A. Prado, On the Use of Mean Motion Resonances to Explore the Haumea System, in Proceedings of the AAS/AIAA Astro. Spec. Conf., , Stevenson, WA (2017), Vol. 162, pp. 1507–1524
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
The EPJ Publishers remain neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cavalca, M.P.O., Gomes, V.M. & Sanchez, D.M. Mid-range natural orbits around the triple asteroid 2001SN263. Eur. Phys. J. Spec. Top. 229, 1557–1572 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2020-900093-0
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2020-900093-0