Kuiper Belt Objects: Determining Mass and Density from Extra-Solar Probe Flybys
- Paper number
IAC-07-C4.6.01
- Author
Dr. Gregory L. Matloff, Bangs / Matloff Aerospace Consulting Co., United States
- Year
2007
- Abstract
The NASA Heliopause Sail and other early extra-solar probes, will be mass limited and probably not equipped with imaging equipment. However, trajectory deflections during close approaches to Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) can yield information regarding KBO mass. When combined with KBO size estimates derived from terrestrial telescopic observations, approximate KBO density can be readily calculated. Mission risks include collisions with binary-KBO satellites. These risks can be mitigated by separating payload and radio-equipped sail prior to a KBO encounter that is performed by the sail alone. This work was supported by a PSC CUNY grant during summer 2006.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-C4.6.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.