Reconstruction of Bennu Particle Events From Sparse Data Pelgrift, John Y.; Lessac‐Chenen, Erik J.; Adam, Coralie D. ...
Earth and space science,
August 2020, 2020-Aug, 2020-08-00, 20200801, 2020-08-01, Volume:
7, Issue:
8
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
OSIRIS‐REx began observing particle ejection events shortly after entering orbit around near‐Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu in January 2019. For some of these events, the only observations of the ...ejected particles come from the first two images taken immediately after the event by OSIRIS‐REx's NavCam 1 imager. Without three or more observations of each particle, traditional orbit determination is not possible. However, by assuming that the particles all ejected at the same time and location for a given event, and approximating that their velocities remained constant after ejection (a reasonable approximation for fast‐moving particles, i.e., with velocities on the order of 10 cm/s or greater, given Bennu's weak gravity), we show that it is possible to estimate the particles' states from only two observations each. We applied this newly developed technique to reconstruct the particle ejection events observed by the OSIRIS‐REx spacecraft during orbit about Bennu. Particles were estimated to have ejected with inertial velocities ranging from 7 cm/s to 3.3 m/s, leading to a variety of trajectory types. Most (>80%) of the analyzed events were estimated to have originated from midlatitude regions and to have occurred after noon (local solar time), between 12:44 and 18:52. Comparison with higher‐fidelity orbit determination solutions for the events with sufficient observations demonstrates the validity of our approach and also sheds light on its biases. Our technique offers the capacity to meaningfully constrain the properties of particle ejection events from limited data.
Key Points
We show how Bennu's particle ejection events can be reconstructed using only two observations
For each event, we estimate the particle velocities and ejection location
Velocities ranged from 7 cm/s to 3.3 m/s, and most observed events took place after noon
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The
New Horizons
mission performed a successful flyby of Arrokoth, a distant Kuiper-Belt Object, on January 1, 2019, representing the farthest planetary encounter to date. The navigation strategy and ...performance required to deliver the spacecraft to the desired flyby target were driven by a number of challenges including those related to Arrokoth’s viewing angle and relatively recent discovery in June 2014. These and other challenges required the
New Horizons
science and navigation teams to devise a strategy in close collaboration that would substantially reduce the flyby navigation errors. Earth-based astrometry and occultation measurements of Arrokoth were collected and used to estimate Arrokoth’s orbit and its associated uncertainties, which were in turn used to inform and reduce navigation approach and flyby uncertainties. The
New Horizons
navigation effort used these a priori orbits along with radio metric and optical navigation measurements to first predict the navigation performance in support of the flyby design, and then estimate
New Horizons
’ trajectory, maneuvers and other filter state parameters during navigation operations. An overview of the Arrokoth orbit estimation and navigation strategy and predicted performance, as well as the operational results from the initial target search campaign in 2004 through Arrokoth’s successful flyby in 2019 are presented, along with the principal challenges and most important lessons learned along the way.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
When optical navigation images acquired by the OSIRIS‐REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security‐Regolith Explorer) mission revealed the periodic ejection of ...particles from asteroid (101955) Bennu, it became a mission priority to quickly identify and track these objects for both spacecraft safety and scientific purposes. The large number of particles and the mission criticality rendered time‐intensive manual inspection impractical. We present autonomous techniques for particle detection and tracking that were developed in response to the Bennu phenomenon but that have the capacity for general application to particles in motion about a celestial body. In an example OSIRIS‐REx data set, our autonomous techniques identified 93.6% of real particle tracks and nearly doubled the number of tracks detected versus manual inspection alone.
Key Points
We describe autonomous techniques for the identification and tracking of particles in motion about a celestial body
We demonstrate these techniques using images from the OSIRIS‐REx mission to the active asteroid (101955) Bennu
In the OSIRIS‐REx dataset, our autonomous algorithms detected 93.6% of real particle tracks, including 244 tracks not identified by manual inspection
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Acquiring and processing astrometric measurements of a spacecraft’s target using on-board images, generically referred to as optical navigation, is an integral function of the orbit determination and ...navigation of NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft. Since New Horizons’ reconnaissance of the Pluto system in July 2015, many preparations have been completed to further enhance the optical navigation system and prepare for the reconnaissance of New Horizons’ next target, Kuiper Belt Object (486958) 2014 MU
69
(unofficially nicknamed Ultima Thule). Due to its low relative brightness compared to most planetary exploration targets, Ultima Thule presents several unique challenges to the optical navigation system. The optical navigation system design, imaging schedule, and technical algorithms that were developed and tailored to these challenges are explored in detail. Additionally, several operational readiness tests, simulation methods, and test results are presented and analyzed to assess the optical navigation system performance and implications to flight operations. Lastly, a first look at Ultima as viewed from the New Horizons LORRI imager is presented.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Abstract
We summarize a decade of effort by the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission team to build up the unique ...capabilities, processes, and procedures required to accomplish the unprecedented navigation performance required during proximity operations at asteroid (101955) Bennu. Stereophotoclinometry was a key technology used for digital terrain model (DTM) generation and landmark navigation, enabling estimation of spacecraft trajectories and Bennu’s geophysical parameters. We outline the concept of operations for OSIRIS-REx landmark navigation and the wide array of testing and verification efforts leading up to OSIRIS-REx’s arrival at Bennu. We relate the outcome of these efforts to the experiences during proximity operations. We discuss navigation and DTM performance during operations, including detailed lessons learned to carry forward for future missions.
Asteroids with diameters less than about 5 km have complex histories because they are small enough for radiative torques (that is, YORP, short for the Yarkovsky-O'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack effect)
to ...be a notable factor in their evolution
. (152830) Dinkinesh is a small asteroid orbiting the Sun near the inner edge of the main asteroid belt with a heliocentric semimajor axis of 2.19 AU; its S-type spectrum
is typical of bodies in this part of the main belt
. Here we report observations by the Lucy spacecraft
as it passed within 431 km of Dinkinesh. Lucy revealed Dinkinesh, which has an effective diameter of only 720 m, to be unexpectedly complex. Of particular note is the presence of a prominent longitudinal trough overlain by a substantial equatorial ridge and the discovery of the first confirmed contact binary satellite, now named (152830) Dinkinesh I Selam. Selam consists of two near-equal-sized lobes with diameters of 210 m and 230 m. It orbits Dinkinesh at a distance of 3.1 km with an orbital period of about 52.7 h and is tidally locked. The dynamical state, angular momentum and geomorphologic observations of the system lead us to infer that the ridge and trough of Dinkinesh are probably the result of mass failure resulting from spin-up by YORP followed by the partial reaccretion of the shed material. Selam probably accreted from material shed by this event.
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The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft was launched in September 2016 and arrived at its target, near-Earth asteroid ...(101955) Bennu in late 2018. After executing nearly two years of multi-phase proximity operations navigation and mapping campaigns, on October 20, 2020 OSIRIS-REx successfully performed the Touch-And-Go (TAG) maneuver to become the first American mission to collect a sample from an asteroid. As Bennu is one of the smallest objects ever to be visited by a planetary spacecraft, the mission presented many navigational challenges, and optical navigation (OpNav) techniques were essential to the successful execution of the mission. The specific challenges of OSIRIS-REx required nimble OpNav planning, robust data management, and quick, automated analyses and data-product delivery capabilities. In addition to the two primary image processing tools, centroid-based and landmark-based OpNav, a host of support and planning tools and procedures were developed. The multi-year operations timeline, fast maneuver cadence, and multi-phase nature of proximity operations for OSIRIS-REx motivated a streamlined and reactive image planning process. A suite of tools was developed to ensure that the mission navigation requirements were continually satisfied. On approach, the Op-N av Opportunity Analyzer (OpOpp) was used to deconflict the imaging schedule with interference from bright background stars. In-flight instrument calibration was performed using an in-house distortion calibration toolset. An Exposure Time Calculator was used to determine optimal exposure times and verify that the images would produce sufficient OpNav image data. Additionally, Fly-Point-Shoot (FPS) software was used to analyze and mitigate the effect of trajectory and pointing uncertainties on image planning and coverage. This paper describes in further detail the operational challenges of the OSIRIS-REx OpNav subsystem, as well as the tools, procedures, and strategies developed to ensure the satisfaction of navigation requirements.
The OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security–Regolith Explorer) Orbit Determination team performed covariance analyses prior to the commencement of proximity ...operations (ProxOps) at (101955) Bennu to determine the expected predicted trajectory performance in order to meet trajectory knowledge requirements throughout each phase of the mission. One of the primary requirements placed on the predicted trajectory performance was based on the performance during orbital phases leading up to the maneuver to initiate the Touch-and-Go (TAG) trajectory descent. Throughout ProxOps the nominal force models being used to predict the spacecraft trajectory were updated in an effort to improve the prediction performance. The most significant models that contributed to prediction performance were of solar radiation pressure, thermal reradiation of the spacecraft, predicted attitude errors, and desaturation maneuvers. Efforts were made throughout all of ProxOps to monitor, trend, predict, and update spacecraft modeling to improve the prediction performance. These efforts were vital to reduce the spacecraft knowledge errors necessary to achieve a TAG target smaller than pre-launch analysis allowed due to the rough terrain of Bennu. Increased precision in predicted trajectory errors allowed for refined uncertainties to be used for future phase planning throughout the mission. The navigation team successfully predicted the spacecraft trajectory throughout all of ProxOps achieving predicted trajectories errors less than originally analyzed.
Optical navigation (OpNav) is a critical subsystem of the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission, which operated in the vicinity of near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu from August 2018 through ...April 2021. A substantial amount of mission resources across multiple subsystems and institutions is required to ensure that the OpNav data are successfully acquired. The KinetX OpNav team, part of the Flight Dynamics System (FDS), is responsible for performing required analysis to develop the OpNav operations plans; requesting, reviewing and verifying the plans; and ultimately using the image data for critical navigation operations. The FDS team, responsible for the mission navigation, is operated by KinetX Aerospace with management and operations support from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The Science Processing and Operations Center (SPOC), located at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, is responsible for generating the planning products for all science and most OpNav data. These plans are integrated into the spacecraft sequences, tested, and commanded by the Mission Support Area (MSA) at Lockheed Martin Space. To ensure mission-critical navigation image data are successfully acquired, the plan is developed through a waterfall of planning cycles over the course of 3 months prior to onboard plan execution. During the initial strategic planning for a mission phase, detailed analysis is performed by the OpNav team to conceptualize the concept of operations (ConOps) for image data collection. This phase OpNav Narrative is included along with other strategic planning documents for the key ground segment stakeholders to review and provide feedback. The detailed OpNav plans get defined in the tactical planning cycle, which spans 8 to 3 weeks before the week-long integrated sequence is executed on-board the spacecraft. During the tactical cycle, the initial OpNav Request is submitted along with the science requests, kicking off development of the science and OpNav plans. Once the initial plan is drafted, interfaces are exercised so that the plan can be reviewed and iterated, if necessary. A rigorous schedule is followed by the planning teams during the implementation cycle, spanning the last 18 days before uplink, to ensure all the necessary integration, testing, and reviewing can occur on time. The development of the OpNav planning ConOps, including responsibilities, interfaces, timelines, and procedures, took extensive collaboration across mission elements and institutions. The process was robust throughout the 137 weeks of continuous Optical Navigation Operations at Bennu, which concluded on April 9th, 2021.
During its initial orbital phase in early 2019, the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) asteroid sample return mission detected ...small particles apparently emanating from the surface of the near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu in optical navigation images. Identification and characterization of the physical and dynamical properties of these objects became a mission priority in terms of both spacecraft safety and scientific investigation. Traditional techniques for particle identification and tracking typically rely on manual inspection and are often time-consuming. The large number of particles associated with the Bennu events and the mission criticality rendered manual inspection techniques infeasible for long-term operational support. In this work, we present techniques for autonomously detecting potential particles in monocular images and providing initial correspondences between observations in sequential images, as implemented for the OSIRIS-REx mission.
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