SAMPLE AND RETURN MISSION FROM ASTEROID NEREUS VIA SOLAR ELECTRIC PROPULSION

The sample and return mission to near Earth asteroid Nereus (4660) via an electric propulsion is presented in this paper, which is investiga ted at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). An ion thruster is assumed here for Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP), which e nables even the smallest spacecraft that weighs about only 350 kg to a ccomplish that difficult mission. ISAS is scheduling to launch one Lun ar and one Martian orbiter in 1997 and 1998 via its own transporter M- V. And this concept follows them next in the launch window of 2002. Th e approach and exploration scenario to Nereus are also described here in detail, among which the mapping as well as sampling sequences are f ocused on. Especially, the sampling scheme proposed here is the charac teristic point featuring an 'artificial landmark', which is the target plate dropped on the surface. This is used for the spacecraft to make a rendezvous autonomously with it via an optical aid onboard. Samples are assumed to be recovered via a hyperbolic reentry capsule on the g round. Practical weight estimation based on some heritages of ISAS doe s firm the spacecraft design feasibility. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.