Dynamics of an orbital siphon anchored to a rotating ellipsoidal asteroid for resource exploitation

Viale, A. , Ceriotti, M. and McInnes, C. (2020) Dynamics of an orbital siphon anchored to a rotating ellipsoidal asteroid for resource exploitation. Acta Astronautica, 177, pp. 561-576. (doi: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.08.001)

Abstract

This paper investigates the dynamics of an orbital siphon anchored to a rotating ellipsoidal asteroid. The siphon is a chain of tether-connected payload masses arranged vertically from the asteroid surface, envisaged for propellantless delivery of payloads (e.g., mined material) from the asteroid surface to a collecting spacecraft. If the structure is long enough, the centrifugal-induced force can overcome the gravitational force on the payloads, eventually allowing resource payloads to escape. By connecting new payloads at the bottom of this chain while removing upper payloads a net orbital siphon effect is established, which provides a net continuous flow of resources from the asteroid surface to a collecting spacecraft, attached at the top of the siphon. The dynamics of the siphon is investigated in detail by varying a set of relevant parameters, in particular, chain length, anchor location and asteroid shape. It is shown that the system exhibits oscillatory behaviour in the equatorial plane, with decreasing oscillation amplitude over time and that the longest equatorial end is the best anchor location to guarantee proper siphon operation while minimizing the chain length. Eventually, a method is proposed to exploit the equatorial Coriolis-induced oscillations of the siphon to transfer payload masses from the collecting spacecraft to the stable equilibrium points associated with the effective potential of the ellipsoidal asteroid, where a catcher would collect the material.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ceriotti, Dr Matteo and Viale, Mr Andrea and McInnes, Professor Colin
• Authors: Viale, A., Ceriotti, M., and McInnes, C.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Journal Name: Acta Astronautica
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0094-5765
• ISSN (Online): 1879-2030
• Published Online: 07 August 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 IAA
• First Published: First published in Acta Astronautica 177: 561-576
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
172105		Ultra-low energy trajectories for near Earth asteroid capture and return	Colin McInnes	The Royal Society (ROYSOC)	WM150013	ENG - Systems Power & Energy
306654		Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging Technologies	Colin McInnes	Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE)	02/08/2019	ENG - Systems Power & Energy