Objective
The goal of this project is to design a low-cost mission to the main-belt asteroids, Trojans and comets, in order to improve our knowledge of the solar system cosmogony and further evolution. The mission is planned to start in 2000-2004 and last for some eight years during which multiple asteroid and comet fly-bys and plasma research will be performed.
The low-cost approach is ensured by relatively small and simple spacecraft with a wet mass of about 400 kg and the use of gravity of the planets. The gravity of Venus and Earth will assist in reaching the asteroid main belt followed by single or multiple Earth and/or Mars swing-bys. This makes the main belt and Trojans accessible to relatively cheap launch vehicles. The application of multiple planet swing-bys for the mission also provides flexibility, i.e. new target bodies may be chosen during the flight and periodic returns make it possible to deliver material back to Earth.
Trajectory design and optimisation will be carried out by means of mathematical methods and software developed in Russia.
The project will also deal with an evaluation of the precision of the correction manoeuvre; the preliminary spacecraft design; the development of scientific experiments on board the spacecraft; and a feasibility study of the evaporation and subsequent capture by the spacecraft of asteroid material during the encounter and its further delivery back to the Earth.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
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Coordinator
981 28 KIRUNA
Sweden
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.