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Why Atens Enjoy Enhanced Accessibility for Human Space FlightNear-Earth objects can be grouped into multiple orbit classifications, among them being the Aten group, whose members have orbits crossing Earth's with semi-major axes less than 1 astronomical unit. Atens comprise well under 10% of known near-Earth objects. This is in dramatic contrast to results from recent human space flight near-Earth object accessibility studies, where the most favorable known destinations are typically almost 50% Atens. Geocentric dynamics explain this enhanced Aten accessibility and lead to an understanding of where the most accessible near-Earth objects reside. Without a comprehensive space-based survey, however, highly accessible Atens will remain largely unknown.
Document ID
20110022601
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Barbee, Brent W.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Adamo, Daniel R.
(Adamo (Daniel R.) Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
July 31, 2011
Subject Category
Astronomy
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.CP.4819.2011
Meeting Information
AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference(Girdwood, AK)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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