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In recent years, surface-penetrating radars have formed a part of several ESA missions in both monostatic and bi-static configurations. Such radars can be found, for instance, on board Mars Express where, using MARSIS, the Martian sub-surface is sensed, as well as on board Rosetta where CONSERT was used to probe the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

The current study has evaluated the feasibility of a CubeSat anchoring device in the context of AIM mission. By enabling this capability on a Cubesat type nanosatellite, the overall AIM mission will be further augmented with in-situ scientific measurements such as close surface visual observations, on site plume ejecta monitoring, impact induced accelerations and seismic wave propagated through asteroid body, etc. Moreover, the anchoring device has a strong reuse potential in the context of SSA by the utilisation of Cubesats or small platforms for debris removal techniques.

Ambient space plasma can induce electrostatic noise in a linear antenna onboard a spacecraft. The resulting quasi-thermal noise (QTN) intensity spectrum as a function of frequency depends on the plasma parameters. The phenomenon can be utilised for inferring the plasma parameters if one measures the induced noise by a sensitive radio receiver. This is called QTN spectroscopy and it has been demonstrated and validated in several space missions that the technique is able to uncover the correct plasma parameters.