Asteroid detumbling for redirection missions

In order to accomplish most asteroid redirection missions, rotational control of the asteroid body is required. Small near-Earth asteroids tend to exhibit a significant range of rotational and tumbling properties. This work provides an analysis of asteroid detumbling using a formation of spacecraft. Through an orbiter and three landed thruster spacecraft, a low-thrust detumbling maneuver is performed on two illustrative asteroids. The asteroid scenarios are designed such that they reflect the characteristics of possible redirection scenarios. In particular the geometries, densities, angular velocities, and masses of the asteroids are adjusted according to available asteroid data to provide two unique redirection scenarios. The asteroid and spacecraft specifications are outlined, as well as the formulations for the detumbling maneuver. The results of the maneuver are discussed along with the key detumbling parameters and timeframe required.