Surface Contact Model for Comets and Asteroids
TBMG-10496
07/01/2011
- Content
A contact force model was developed for use in touch and go (TAG) surface sampling simulations on small celestial bodies such as comets and asteroids. In TAG scenarios, a spacecraft descending toward the surface of a small body comes into contact with the surface for a short duration of time, collects material samples with a sampler device, and then ascends to leave the surface. The surface contact required 6-DOF (degrees of freedom) dynamics models due to coupling of the attitude and translation dynamics during the contact.
- Citation
- "Surface Contact Model for Comets and Asteroids," Mobility Engineering, July 1, 2011.