Nebula Public Library

Libration Point Orbits (LPO) and Highly Elliptical Orbits (HEO) are often selected for astrophysics and solar terrestrial missions as they offer vantage points for the observation of the Earth, the Sun and the Universe. No guidelines currently exist for LPO and HEO missions' end-of-life; however, as current and future missions are planned to be placed on these orbits, it is a critical aspect to define a sustainable strategy for their disposal, with the objective to avoid interference with protected regions.

The Light Touch2 concept proposes the use of laser ablation to change the orbital velocity of a 4m, 130 ton, asteroid by 1m/s in less than 3 years A laser beam is used to sublimate part of the asteroid material and generate a low and continuous thrust. This study demonstrates how to implement this concept on a medium class interplanetary spacecraft, here called AdAM (Asteroid Ablation Mission).
Methodology