Accurate analytical approximation of asteroid deflection with constant tangential thrust

• Published in: Celestial mechanics and dynamical astronomy Vol. 114; no. 3; pp. 279 - 295
• Main Authors: Bombardelli, Claudio, Baù, Giulio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-11-2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerospace Technology and Astronautics; Approximation; Asteroids; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Classical Mechanics; Deflection; Dynamical Systems and Ergodic Theory; Earth; Geophysics/Geodesy; Original Article; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Asymptotic expansion; Asteroid deflection; Tangential thrust
• ISSN: 0923-2958; 1572-9478
• DOI: 10.1007/s10569-012-9440-0

We present analytical formulas to estimate the variation of achieved deflection for an Earth-impacting asteroid following a continuous tangential low-thrust deflection strategy. Relatively simple analytical expressions are obtained with the aid of asymptotic theory and the use of Peláez orbital elements set, an approach that is particularly suitable to the asteroid deflection problem and is not limited to small eccentricities. The accuracy of the proposed formulas is evaluated numerically showing negligible error for both early and late deflection campaigns. The results will be of aid in planning future low-thrust asteroid deflection missions.