Nebula Public Library

The knowledge bank of ESA’s R&D programmes

Contactless Earth-bound object modification system COBRA and binary asteroid orbit modification system BEAST

Programme
Discovery
Programme Reference
2012-4
Contractor
Start Date
End Date
Country
Spain
Contactless Earth-bound object modification system COBRA and binary asteroid orbit modification system BEAST
Description

BEAST aims to modify the orbital period of the small secondary object of a binary asteroid by kinetic impact. BEAST analyses a commercial LEO platform accommodating as payload the impactor and GNC system with total mission cost below 150 M€.
The objective of the Cobra mission is to use a conventional chemical thruster to modify the orbit of a man-made object through plume impingement. The proposed concept uses a standard satellite platform with a modified payload to suit mission needs.

Executive summary