A Radio Science Experiment for the RAMSES Mission to Asteroid 99942 Apophis

• DOI: 10.5194/epsc2024-822
• Publication Date: 2024-07-03T11:09:04Z
• Authors: Riccardo Lasagni ...; Marco Zannoni; Edoardo Gramigna; Paolo Tortora; Giacomo Paialunga; Andrea Negri; Giovanni Cucinella; Pier Luigi De Rubeis; Lorenzo Simone
• Keywords: Radio Science

On April 13, 2029, the asteroid 99942 Apophis will have a very close encounter with Earth, transiting GEO ring. This flyby represents unique opportunity to observe well-known potentially hazardous subject strong tidal forces. The time-varying orbital and rotational environment can lead changes in surface slopes. Depending on circumstances, this mechanism may drive significant property asteroid's internal structure granular motion its surface. In context, characterizing bulk density mass distribution within nucleus before after could represent critical step towards understanding evolution history of near-Earth asteroids.In work, we present outline possible Radio Science Experiment (RSE) onboard Rapid Mission for Space Safety (RAMSES) proposed by European Agency, which is expected rendezvous February right encounter. objectives experiment include overall mass, density, porosity an accuracy less than 1%, determining spin rate orientation 1% 5°, respectively, estimating extended gravity field nucleus, improving trajectory reconstruction.To reach outlined objectives, radio science combine Earth-based radiometric measurements, namely Doppler, range, ΔDOR, optical images collected narrow- wide-angle cameras. Furthermore, RSE exploit measurements through Inter-Satellite Link CubeSats released RAMSES spacecraft, allowing us collect high-accuracy Doppler at closer distances from target eventual landing. regard, mission might serve as first deep space application new X-band Transceiver (ISL-T) CubeSats, being developed framework INNOVATOR project founded Italian Agency.Building experience gained HERA mission, work shows that concept operations, involving link between two deployable fully capable satisfying high encounter.Simulations orbit determination covariance analysis are conducted JPL's Analysis, Operations, Navigation Toolkit Environment (MONTE) software, using full-two body problem model accurately describe non-principal axis rotation interactions Earth’s field.As part study, identify synergies payloads be embarked either or coordinated campaigns ground-based observatories OSIRIS-APEX mission.