Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous

Abstract

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory recently completed a pre-Phase A study to design a spacecraft to rendezvous and go into orbit around a near earth asteroid. The spacecraft would map the asteroid's surface and collect other science data for a one year period. The primary mission would be a rendezvous with either asteroid Anteros or with asteroid 1982XB. Presently, the APL NEAR spacecraft is beginning Phase A study. This paper identifies the science objectives and mission goals, outlines the mission scenario, and concludes with a description of the APL NEAR pre-Phase A spacecraft.