Dynamics of orbits sustained by solar radiation pressure - applications in space exploration and planetary science

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Jürgen Oberst
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy ; Geodesy, Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics, Cartography
• Term: from 2016 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 317324599

• Final Report Year: 2021

Final Report Abstract

In this project, we systematically studied a phenomenon in celestial mechanics, which has come to the attention of planetary explorers only recently: the survival of orbits in the faint gravity fields of small planetary bodies in the presence of solar radiation pressure. We have developed powerful software tools and have carried out studies on the general dynamics of orbits sustained by solar radiation pressure. Also, we explored and found various useful applications of such orbits in spacecraft planetary missions, along the lines of our initial proposal.

Publications

• 2017. Spacecraft orbit lifetime within two binary near-Earth asteroid systems Planetary and Space Science, Volume 146, p. 1-9, 2017
  Damme, F., H. Hussmann, J. Oberst
  (See online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2017.07.018)
• 2018. Venturing to Near-Earth Asteroid systems using Nuclear Electric Propulsion. European Planetary Science Congress 2018, Vol. 12, EPSC2018-355
  Damme, F., Oberst, J., Jansen, F.
  
• 2019. Ranges and options for non-Keplerian orbits of spacecraft around asteroids. EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019, EPSC-DPS2019-1959-1
  Damme, F., Oberst, J.
  
• 2019. Ranges and options for non-Keplerian orbits of spacecraft around asteroids. European Planetary Science Congress 2019
  Damme, F., Oberst, J.
  
• 2020. Terminator Orbits around the Triple Asteroid 2001-SN263: A search for stable motion applicable to the mission ASTER. European Planetary Science Congress 2020, EPSC2020-835
  Wickhusen, K., Damme, F., G. V. de Brum, A., Stark, A., Vincent, J. B., Hussmann, H., Oberst, J.
  (See online at https://doi.org/10.5194/epsc2020-835)