Image: Suitcase-sized asteroid explorer
A view of ESA's smallest future asteroid mission mapping its target body by laser.
The suitcase-sized ESA's Miniaturised Asteroid Remote Geophysical Observer, or M-Argo will use a multispectral camera and a laser altimeter to look for asteroid resources such as hydrated minerals that could be extracted in future. Other miniaturised payloads are also being considered.
Planned for launch in the 2023-25 timeframe, M-Argo would use its flat reflectarray antenna to return science data to Earth from up to 150 million km away.
Provided by European Space Agency
Citation:
Image: Suitcase-sized asteroid explorer (2020, July 1)
retrieved 23 April 2024
from https://phys.org/news/2020-07-image-suitcase-sized-asteroid-explorer.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
