Linear Momentum Enhancement Beta-Factor Estimation Technique for Asteroid Deflection Missions

An asteroid kinetic impactor demonstration mission is gaining interest among the planetary defense community to better understand the challenges and the dynamics of an impact scenario. Of particular interest is the beta-factor that expresses the momentum gain caused by ejecta cloud dynamics after impact. Prediction of the beta-factor has been addressed extensively in the literature over the last decade, estimation techniques have not been investigated so far.

First, this work presents two unambiguous beta-factor definitions for the linear and angular momentum conservation equation. Second, a robust observation strategy is developed for the reconnaissance spacecraft at the close proximity of the asteroid to support the momentum enhancement factor estimation. Third, an asteroid heliocentric orbit determination estimator for small asteroids is setup with the support of a Reconnaissance spacecraft where radioscience tracking data is fused with optical navigation information. Last, the orbit determination results are used to estimate the beta-factor and to establish an error budget.