SIMONE: Interplanetary microsatellites for NEO rendezvous missions

Abstract

The paper summarises a novel mission concept called SIMONE (Smallsat Intercept Missions to Objects Near Earth), whereby a fleet of microsatellites may be deployed to individually rendezvous with a number of Near Earth Objects (NEOs), at very low cost. The mission enables, for the first time, the diverse properties of a range of spectral and physical type NEOs to be determined. Such data are invaluable in the NEO scientific, impact damage prediction, and impact countermeasure planning contexts. The five identical 120kg spacecraft are designed for low-cost piggyback launch on the Ariane-5 into GTO, from where each uses a high specific impulse gridded-ion engine to escape Earth gravity and ultimately to rendezvous with a different NEO target. The primary challenge with such a mission is the ability to accommodate the necessary electric propulsion, power, payload and other onboard systems within the severe constraints of a microsatellite. The paper describes the way in which the latest technological advancements and innovations have been selected and applied to the mission design. The SIMONE design is feasible and offers a highly cost-effective mission, which is applicable to other solar system science/exploration objectives. SIMONE clearly demonstrates that the concept of an "interplanetary microsatellite" is now realisable.

Conceptual interplanetary space mission design using multi-objective evolutionary optimization and design grammars

“…In case of changing requirements, the information can be used to get Fig. 3 Comparison of the developed model with missions and mission studies Note: The data for comparison is taken from references [16], [22] to [29] an impression of the consequences of design changes.…”

“…In the Simone study [22], novel technology is considered, but not implemented in the model. The deviation in the DonQuijote [23] example indicates that design drivers which had been considered in the study were not implemented in the model.…”