The Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout (MASCOT) - System & Mission Engineering and Surface Operations Concept

摘要: The Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout (MASCOT) is currently under development as a DLR contribution to the Japanese Hayabusa 2 mission, sample return mission C-type near-Earth asteroid 1999JU3. MASCOT small about size of shoe box deployable package with total mass 10 kg. It enhances missions scientific by providing ground truth information from different surface sites relocating itself hopping mechanism. is, thus, complementing mission. will also accomplish stand-alone science which can only be provided element and serve reconnaissance scouting vehicle. Challenges design small-body landing are geo-technical properties these bodies, priori basically unknown. shape rotational state assumed irregular, resulting in complex gravity field, whereas could even differ largely across one asteroid. marginal knowledge environmental conditions affects mainly mobility capabilities guidance control performance. To fulfill its objectives while satisfying tight volume budget constraints view highly uncertain environment, designed integrated some degree autonomous robotic operations capability on surface. This paper introduces system well payload suite then focuses aspects operational concept. Hereby, interaction subsystem, attitude motion determination sensors payload, coordinated MASCOT's onboard decision making entity, discussed. An outlook functional endto-end simulation testing given.