Trajectories for spacecraft encounters with Comet Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova in 1996Early in 1996, the relatively bright short-period Comet Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova (HMP) will pass only 0.17 astronomical unit from the earth, providing both an unusually favorable apparition for ground-based observers and an opportunity for a spacecraft to reach Comet HMP on relatively low-energy trajectories. The Japanense Institute of Space and Astronautical Sciences Sakigake spacecraft is expected to fly by Comet HMP on February 3, 1996, after utilizing four earth swingbys to modify its orbit. If the camera on the ESA Giotto spacecraft is inoperable, Giotto may also be sent to Comet HMP. In addition, 1-year earth-return trajectories to Comet HMP are described, along with some that can be extended to encounter Comet Giacobini-Zinner in 1998.
Document ID
19900026422
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Dunham, David W. (Computer Sciences Corp. Lanham, MD, United States)
Jen, Shao-Chiang (Computer Sciences Corp. Lanham, MD, United States)
Farquhar, Robert W. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)