ESA: 19-D-S-TEC-01 FAST DEVELOPMENT OF KINETIC IMPACTOR FOR SHORT-WARNING ASTEROID DEFLECTION – EXPRO+
13, May 2019

ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO9861
Open Date: 06/05/2019
Closing Date: 17/06/2019 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 19.197.01
Prog. Ref.: Discovery
Budget Ref.: E/0600-06 – Discovery
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+PL+EE+HU+CA+SI
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 100-200 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Other
Technology Domains: Others
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. & Quality
Department: Systems Department
Division: Adv. Concepts & Studies Office
Contract Officer: Hertzog, Hendriline
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 06/05/2019
Update Reason: Tender issue

One of the objectives of Planetary Defence is “to be able to deflect asteroids smaller than 1 km, if known more than two years in advance”. Kinetic deflection seems the best option using European capabilities and is the less complex among the different deflectionstrategies. However, implementing a new deep space mission in such a short time seems virtually impossible. This study will assess the feasibility of modifying an European commercial satellite platform (e.g. GEO telecomm) to accommodate the equipment (e.g. relative navigation means) and resources (e.g. propellant, autonomy) to perform kinetic deflection. This new study will assess the modifications required on an existing commercial platform (e.g. radiation tolerance/hardening) to launch in the shortest time a spacecraft that produces the required asteroid deflection. The impact requirements will be defined as function of the asteroid orbital parameters and the warning time, considering European launcher performances. The impact geometry, kinematics and accuracy will be analyzed todesign the GNC system, including the asteroid ephemerides uncertainties. The study will assess the feasibility of deploying a cubesat to observe of the impact and transmit the data to Earth (similar to Deep Impact or MARCO). The conclusions of the study will define the needs, constraints and drivers of asteroid kinetic deflection for short warning time.

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