This page gives an overview of the dicussion results of the Hands-on Sessions during the Landing Site for Exploration Workshop 2011

Hands-on Session 1: Define Goals and Approach

Defining Goals and Approach

• The scenario Asteroids and Phobos landing site selection proofs to be difficult with respect to the available information and what we could rely on for such a mission. Phobos is an example for which we have a wealth of information available ready to be prepared for a landing site analysis that is not the case for an asteroid mission that aims at a body that is known only from earth based observations. Hence, the scenario team decided to formulate initial requirements that need to be in place for bodies that are not as well discovered as Phobos. In a next step we anticipate that a similar data set as compared to Phobos data would be made available – during a mapping orbit for instance – to then decide on the example of Phobos on a landing site.

Prerequisit for asteroid lander missions:

- rough estimate of the shape

- rotational speed

- spin axis orientation

- density estimates

Prior to a decission on a landing site a mapping/observation phase would be required to define scientifically interesting and technical possible locations. Important data that need to be acquired are e.g. gravity coefficients, dynamic height, detailes on surface features, slopes etc.

Hands-on 2 session: Criteria for landing site selection

In the past, most asteroid or Phobos lander mission proposals named the desire to add furhter constrains on the origin of the asteroid or Phobos as their primary science objective. Hence, the group discussed how such data could be obtained and defined scientific and engineering requirements

Scientifc requirements for lander

- rock should be sampled -- as a rock on the surface is likely to represent the material the entire object consists of

- regolith should be sampled

• o surface composition
• o detect material similar to another bodies surface material

- determination of the inner structure

Prior to a landing it would be desireable to obtain the following science based information

- geologic interesting area (diversities)

- thermal inertia

- organics

- 3 micron band

Engineering requirements:

- Hopping to go to several places

• o to cover a variety of features observed

- Partial automatic sample analysis as far as possible to reduce time

- Landing system needs to live days or weeks

- Sun visibility

- Earth visibility for communication

Hands-on Session 3: Mapping criteria

As no or little information is available for asteroids, the group now concentrates on the landing site selection on the example of Phobos. For Phobos a wealth of information is available and a discussion determined what else would be desirable or required for a detailed landing site selection process.