An efficient algorithm for prioritizing NEA physical observations

Journal
Date Issued
2017
Author(s)
Cortese, M.
•
Perozzi, E.
•
Micheli, M.
•
Borgia, B.
•
•
•
•
Barucci, M. A.
•
DOI
Description
We acknowledge the financial support from the NEOShield-2 project, funded by the European Commission’s HORIZON 2020 program (contract PROTEC-2-2014-640351). This work was also partially funded under ESA contract 4000112366 SSA P2-NEO-I NEO Precursor Services. The postgraduate course in Space Science and Technology of the Department of Mathematics, University of Rome Tor Vergata is gratefully acknowledged. The P3L is available online thanks to the invaluable support of Esther Parrilla, Maria del Mar, Alvaro Ortiz, and Juan-Luis Cano (Deimos Space). Finally, we would like to thank the referees of this paper for their helpful suggestions.
Abstract
The present near-Earth asteroids (NEA) discovery rate has surpassed 1500 objects per year, thus calling for extensive observation campaigns devoted to physical characterization in order to define successful mitigation strategies in case of possible impactors. A tool is presented which, through a prioritization algorithm, aims to optimize the planning and the execution of NEA physical observations. Two ranking criteria are introduced, Importance and Urgency, accounting for the need of satisfying the two basic observational modes for physical characterization, that is, rapid response and large observing programs, aimed at selecting targets for exploration and mitigation space missions. The resulting tool generates a daily table of observable targets and it can also be run as a stand-alone tool in order to provide future observing opportunities at a specific date of interest. It has been developed and implemented within the framework of the NEOShield-2 EU/HORIZON 2020 Project; the output of the prioritization algorithm is publicly available, in tabular format, on the NEOShield-2 NEO Properties Portal (http://www.neoshield.net/the-neoshield-project/project-activities/neo-properties-portal), reachable from the main page of the Project website (http://www.neoshield.eu).
Funding(s)
Volume
52
Issue
3
Start page
522
Uri
Url
Issn Identifier
1086-9379
Ads BibCode
2017M&PS...52..522C
Rights
restricted
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