Integrated Science and Engineering Simulation Environment for Formation Flying Mission around Small Body

Abstract

In this paper, we present a novel integrated simulation tool that models science yield and mission resources as a function of science payload, mission and system design, spacecraft behavior and modes, and target uncertainties. This provides a comprehensive and self-consistent approach to multi-spacecraft mission formulation around small bodies. We demonstrate this tool for the case of a notional three-spacecraft mission to the near-Earth asteroid Apophis, which will flyby Earth in 2029.