The Italian microsatellite mission LICIACube: an enabler for innovative strategies in Interplanetary Exploration and Planetary Defense

Paper number

IAC-23,E10,2,2,x77574

Author

Mr. Gabriele Impresario, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Angelo Zinzi, ASI - Italian Space Agency, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Marilena Amoroso, Italian Space Agency (ASI), Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Simone Pirrotta, ASI - Italian Space Agency, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Ivano Bertini, University of Naples "Parthenope", Italy

Coauthor

Dr. John Robert Brucato, INAF - Astrophysical Observatory of Arcetri, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Andrea Capannolo, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Michele Ceresoli, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Biagio Cotugno, Argotec, Italy

Coauthor

Prof. Gabriele Cremonese, INAF - Osservatorio astronomico di Padova, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Massimo Dall'Ora, INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Vincenzo Della Corte, INAF-IAPS, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Prasanna Deshapriya, INAF, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Elisabetta Dotto, INAF - OAR, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Emilio Fazzoletto, Argotec, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Igor Gai, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Pedro Henrique Hasselmann, INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Ieva Simone, INAF, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Stavro Lambrov Ivanovski,, INAF, Italy

Coauthor

Prof. Michèle Lavagna, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Alice Lucchetti, INAF - Osservatorio astronomico di Padova, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Elena Mazzotta Epifani, INAF, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Andrea Meneghin, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Federico Miglioretti, Argotec, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Dario Modenini, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Maurizio Pajola, CISAS – “G. Colombo” Center of Studies and Activities for Space, University of Padova, Italy

Coauthor

Prof.Dr. Pasquale Palumbo, INAF-IAPS, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Silvio Patruno, Argotec, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Davide Perna, INAF - OAR, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Giovanni Poggiali, INAF, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Alessandro Rossi, IFAC-CNR, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Gianmarco Reverberi, Argotec, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Emanuele Simioni, Italy

Coauthor

Prof. Paolo Tortora, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Filippo Tusberti, INAF - PD, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Marco Zannoni, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Giovanni Zanotti, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Year

2023

Abstract

In the last decade, an increasing number of cubesat-class spacecraft have been involved in the execution of missions, operating at distances from our home planet ranging between Low-Earth Orbit to Mars.

In particular, the Light Italian Cubesat for Imaging of Asteroids (LICIACube) mission of Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) has contributed to the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) by witnessing, on September 26th, 2022, the successful impact of DART spacecraft with the asteroid 65803-Didymos I (Dimorphos), and revealing the immediate aftermaths of the event while performing a quick flyby, successfully participating in the first Planetary Defense real-scale test ever conducted by humanity.

The LICIACube mission, leveraging on national competences and together with the international collaboration with the DART mission, has been able to improve the operational, technical, managerial and scientific know-how at national level, together with creating new records in interplanetary exploration.

The concept of modular space segments, for the achievement of ever complex mission goals, has recently found favourable conditions thanks to the increasing capabilities of smaller platforms, that are now capable of bringing non-negligible, and even crucial, added values.

An assessment of present state of the art will be conducted, considering the consequences on mission life cycle and the architecture of companion space systems' segments, with a focus on exploration.

In particular, the present work aims also at highlighting and describing the added value of the LICIACube mission's contribution, in validating and verifying the outcome of the Planetary Defense method of kinetic impact with the presence of a proximity observer spacecraft.

Abstract document

IAC-23,E10,2,2,x77574.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-23,E10,2,2,x77574.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.