This comprehensive study delves into the significance of asteroid research and proposes a
systematic classification consisting of seven distinct categories. Initially, a concise definition …

CELESTIAL mechanics has traditionally been concerned with orbital motion under the
action of a conservative gravitational potential. In particular, the inverse square gravitational …

Autonomous close-proximity operations (hovering, landing) in the low-gravity environment
exhibited by asteroids are particularly challenging. A novel nonlinear landing guidance …

We optimize a six degrees of freedom hovering policy using reinforcement meta-learning.
The policy maps flash LIDAR measurements directly to on/off spacecraft body-frame thrust …

Small solar system bodies such as asteroids and comets are of significant interest for both
scientific and human exploration missions. However, their orbital environments are among …

This paper deals with the problem of map** unknown small celestial bodies while
autonomously navigating in their proximity with an optical camera. A Deep Reinforcement …

Solar sail spacecraft are proposed to accomplish body-fixed hovering missions over
elongated asteroids. The body-fixed hovering flight is to maintain a fixed position relative to …

A finite-time control scheme for autonomous body-fixed hovering of a rigid spacecraft over a
tumbling asteroid is presented. The relative configuration between the spacecraft and …

This research focuses on the design and reconstruction of the first touchdown of Hayabusa2
on the asteroid Ryugu. Because of the plethora of boulders, the landing operation required …

OVER the last few years, the possible scenario of an asteroid threatening to impact the Earth
has stimulated an intense debate among the scientific community about possible deviation …