Kuiper Belt Objects Along the Pluto-Express Path

Abstract

The science objective of this work is to identify objects in the Kuiper Belt which will, in the 5 years following Pluto encounter, be close to the flight path of NASA's Pluto Express. Our hope is that we will find a Kuiper Belt object or objects close enough that a spacecraft flyby will be possible. If we find a suitable object, the science yield of Pluto Express will be substantially enhanced. The density of objects in the Kuiper Belt is such that we are reasonably likely to find an object close enough to the flight path that on-board gas thrusters can effect a close encounter.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 25, 1997
Accession Number
ADA332376

Entities

People

  • David C. Jewitt

Organizations

  • University of HawaiĘ»i System

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Astronomy
  • Charge Coupled Devices
  • Data Rate
  • Flight
  • Flight Paths
  • Orbits
  • Space Flight
  • Spacecraft
  • Telescopes
  • Thrusters
  • Trajectories
  • Universities

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Computational Linguistics
  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers