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

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.