New Small Satellite Mission to Rendezvous with Binary Asteroids

Rhea-AI Summary

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and the University of Colorado Boulder are set to launch the Janus mission in 2022, focusing on binary asteroids. NASA approved the initiative, allowing implementation, scheduling, and budgeting to commence. The mission will deploy two small, nimble spacecraft to explore pairs of binary asteroids, providing unprecedented data to enhance understanding of their evolution. The total mission cost is under $55 million, funded through NASA's SIMPLEx program. This mission aims to motivate further exploration of binary asteroids, advancing technology and science.

Positive

• NASA's approval facilitates project implementation and funding under SIMPLEx program.
• Mission cost is less than $55 million, positioning it as a cost-effective exploration initiative.
• Utilizes two small spacecraft designed for efficient space travel and science exploration.
• Aims to enhance understanding of binary asteroids, potentially motivating additional missions.

Negative

• None.

DENVER, Sept. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Colorado Boulder and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) will soon lead a new space mission to capture the first-ever closeup look at a mysterious class of solar system objects: binary asteroids.

These bodies are pairs of asteroids that orbit around each other in space, much like the Earth and Moon. In a project review on Sept. 3, NASA gave the official go-ahead to the Janus mission, named after the two-faced Roman god. The mission will study these asteroid couplets in never-before-seen detail. Known as Key Decision Point-C (KDP-C), this review and approval from NASA allows for the project to begin implementation, and baselines +the project's official schedule and budget.

It will be a moment for twos: In 2022, the Janus team will launch two identical spacecraft that will travel millions of miles to individually fly close to two pairs of binary asteroids. Their observations could open up a new window into how these diverse bodies evolve and even burst apart over time, said Daniel Scheeres, the principle investigator for Janus.  

"Binary asteroids are one class of objects for which we don't have high-resolution scientific data," said Scheeres, distinguished professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at CU Boulder. "Everything we have on them is based on ground observations, which don't give you as much detail as being up close."

The mission, which will cost less than $55 million under NASA's SIMPLEx program, may also help to usher in a new era of space exploration, said Lockheed Martin's Janus Project Manager Josh Wood. He explained that Janus' twin spacecraft are designed to be small and nimble, each one about the size of a carry-on suitcase.

"We see an advantage to be able to shrink our spacecraft," said Wood. "With technology advancements, we can now explore our solar system and address important science questions with smaller spacecraft."

Janus is led by the University of Colorado Boulder, where Scheeres is based, which will also undertake the scientific analysis of images and data for the mission. Lockheed Martin will manage, build and operate the spacecraft.

The mission will rendezvous with two binary pairs—named 1996 FG3 and 1991 VH—each showcasing a different kind of orbital pattern. The pair called 1991 VH, for example, has a "moon" that whips around a much bigger "primary" asteroid following a hard-to-predict pattern.

The team will use a suite of cameras to track the dynamical motion in unprecedented detail. Among other goals, Scheeres and his colleagues hope to learn more about how binary asteroids move—both around each other and through space.

"Once we see them up close up, there will be a lot of questions we can answer, but these will raise new questions as well," Scheeres said. "We think Janus will motivate additional missions to binary asteroids."

Wood added that the mission's twin spacecraft, each of which weigh just about 80 pounds, will travel farther than any small satellite to date.

After blasting off in 2022, they'll first complete an orbit around the sun, before heading back toward Earth and sling-shotting their way far into space and beyond the orbit of Mars.

"I think it's a great test for what is achievable from the aerospace community," Wood said. "And the Colorado-centric development for this mission, combining the space talent of both CU Boulder and Lockheed Martin, is a testament to the skills available in the state."

About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 110,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com.

Please follow @LMNews on Twitter for the latest announcements and news across the corporation.

 

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin

FAQ

What is the Janus mission by Lockheed Martin and CU Boulder?

The Janus mission aims to study binary asteroids using two spacecraft, launched in 2022.

What is the cost of the Janus mission?

The mission is budgeted at less than $55 million, funded through NASA's SIMPLEx program.

When will the Janus mission be launched?

The Janus mission is scheduled for launch in 2022.

What are binary asteroids?

Binary asteroids are pairs of asteroids that orbit around each other, similar to the Earth and Moon.

How will the Janus mission benefit space exploration?

The mission will provide unprecedented data on binary asteroids, enhancing scientific understanding and potentially leading to future missions.