Proximity Operations About Apophis Through Its 2029 Earth Flyby

The dynamics and control of a satellite in proximity to the asteroid Apophis across its Earth close approach in 2029 is evaluated and investigated.

First, the feasibility of carrying out close proximity operations about Apophis when in its heliocentric orbit phase is evaluated and shown to be feasible.

Then three different types of close proximity motion relative to Apophis are analyzed that will enable a spacecraft to take observations throughout the Earth close approach. These are maintaining a relative orbit that is somewhat distant from Apophis, hovering along the Earth-Apophis line, or maintaining orbit about Apophis through the flyby.

Each of these are shown to be feasible, albeit challenging, and some basic aspects of these operations are noted and discussed.

Daniel J. Scheeres

Comments: Accepted for publication in the Journal of the Astronautical Sciences
Subjects: Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP); Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM)
Cite as: arXiv:2211.10903 [astro-ph.EP] (or arXiv:2211.10903v1 [astro-ph.EP] for this version)
Submission history
From: Daniel Scheeres
[v1] Sun, 20 Nov 2022 08:27:28 UTC (2,315 KB)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2211.10903