Apophis landing

[vonneuman]

We all know how hard it is to get a probe to an asteroid in real life. Vast with the distances it is only possible to get small objects to and from them. But there is one asteroid that is coming to us, and more importantly, it is coming back. It is going to come by so close that it is going to dip below our com sats. So my question is would it be possible to land a proble on Apophis while it is passing Earth and have it travel with the object until it comes back a few years later?

 

[T.Neo]

I would be better to just land a probe on Apophis- no need to wait for 2029.

There is a minute chance it will pass through a "gravitational keyhole" during the first pass, and if it does, there is a chance it will impact Earth in 2036. I wouldn't particularly be waiting for 2036, although I would not donate my life savings or build an impact shelter anytime soon.

Apophis is a rather small object so chances are it would "just" destroy a city (if it hits one) or create a large tidal wave, not a worldwide extinction level event.

Although a "landing on Apophis during an Earth pass" scenario would make a nice challenge for Orbiter.

 

[garyw]

also, you need to look at Aphosis trajectory, what angle is it approaching the planet? if it's approaching considerably out of plane then there will be a larger delta-v requirement to get to it. Also, as it approaches Earth it's going to gain speed.

So, just because it's closer to Earth doesn't mean it's easier to reach!

 

[vonneuman]

I would be better to just land a probe on Apophis- no need to wait for 2029.

The reason for waiting for it to come to us is so we could land larger and better equipment than we could ever do if we had to send it across the solar system. It would alow scientists to study an asteroid in detail like they never could before. With th bonus that it is coming back means that the probe could take more samples.
The problem I see it trying to catch this while it is passing earth.

Although a "landing on Apophis during an Earth pass" scenario would make a nice challenge for Orbiter.

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[T.Neo]

So, just because it's closer to Earth doesn't mean it's easier to reach!

Indeed. But that may just be the reason to make it into an Orbiter challenge...

 

[agentgonzo]

if it's approaching considerably out of plane then there will be a larger delta-v requirement to get to it.

Out of plane with what? If you're wanting to land a probe on it then you'll need to launch from the Earth anyway which means you can launch the probe into a coplanar trajectory with Apophis and land with it as it is passing the Earth.

Encounter speed will likely be somewhere between the ejection burn speeds to reach the Moon and Jupiter (roughly 3km/s and 6km/s from LEO from memory)

 

[garyw]

Indeed. But that may just be the reason to make it into an Orbiter challenge...

Might be time to add this -> [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3470"]A.R.T.[/ame]

and update the elements through this -> [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=1436"]MPC Database Asteroid Viewer and Exporter v2.0.3[/ame]

 

[vonneuman]

I am not saying that it would be easy. I was asking if it was even possible. In theory you would need to have your probe in the prober orbital plain. But the hard part it chatching it, because in order to catch it you would have to be moving at the same speed it is. So your probe would go flying of into space. Timing would be key.
The catching of Apophis is what I am worried about. Is it even possible to calculate such a precise rendezvous?

 

[Brycesv1]

Made a mistake, delete please

 

[Zatnikitelman]

There already look to be several missions in the works:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99942_Apophis#Potential_space_missions

 

[T.Neo]

There already look to be several missions in the works:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99942_Apophis#Potential_space_missions

Yes, but none so far have involved an XR2 and a 10 minute deadline. :lol: