Space-Based Infrared Near-Earth Asteroid Survey Simulation

Abstract

We demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of using a satellite-based sensor with visual and infrared focal plane arrays to search for NEAs with orbits largely interior to the Earth's orbit. Such a space-based system could detect approximately 97% of the Atens and 64% of the, as yet hypothetical, objects with orbits entirely Interior to Earth's Orbit with diameters greater than 1 km in a five-year mission and obtain orbits, albedos and diameters for all of them. These are the results of a feasibility study; optimizing the concept presented would result in greater levels of completion. The cost of such a space-based system is estimated to be within a factor of two of the cost of a ground-based system capable of about 21st magnitude, which would provide only orbits and absolute magnitudes and require decades to reach these completeness levels. In addition to obtaining albedos and diameters for the asteroids discovered in the space-based survey, a space-based system would obtain the same information on virtually all known NEOs of interest. A combined space-based and ground-based survey would be highly synergistic in that each can concentrate on what it does best and each complements the strengths of the other. An integrated ground-based and space-based system could accomplish the Spaceguard goal in less time than the ground-based system alone. In addition, the result would be a catalog containing well-determined orbits, diameters, and albedos for the majority of NEAs with diameters greater than 500 m.