LIDAR altimeter conception for HERA spacecraft
Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology
ISSN: 0002-2667
Article publication date: 26 July 2021
Issue publication date: 12 August 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to report the first iteration on the Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Engineering Model altimeter named HELENA. HELENA is a Time of Flight (TOF) altimeter that provides time-tagged distances and velocity measurements. The LIDAR can be used for support near asteroid navigation and provides scientific information. The HELENA design comprises two types of technologies: a microchip laser and low noise sensor. The synergies between these two technologies enable developing a compact instrument for range measurements of up to 14 km. Thermal-mechanical and radiometric simulations of the HELENA telescope are reported in this paper. The design is subjected to vibrational, static and thermal conditions, and it was possible to conclude by the results that the telescope is compliant with the random vibration levels, the static load and the operating temperatures.
Design/methodology/approach
The Asteroid Impact & Deflection Assessment (AIDA) is a collaboration between the NASA DART mission and ESA Hera mission. The aim scope is to study the asteroid deflection through a kinetic collision. DART spacecraft will collide with Didymos-B, while ground stations monitor the orbit change. HERA spacecraft will study the post-impact scenario. The HERA spacecraft is composed by a main spacecraft and two small CubeSats. HERA will monitor the asteroid through cameras, radar, satellite-to-satellite doppler tracking, LIDAR, seismometry and gravimetry.
Findings
The HELENA design comprises two types of technologies: a microchip laser and low noise sensor. The synergies between these two technologies enable developing a compact instrument for range measurements of up to 14 km.
Originality/value
In this paper is reported the first iteration on the LIDAR Engineering Model altimeter named HELENA. HELENA is a TOF altimeter that provides time-tagged distances and velocity measurements. The LIDAR can be used for support near asteroid navigation and provides scientific information. The HELENA design comprises two types of technologies: a microchip laser and low noise sensor. The synergies between these two technologies enable developing a compact instrument for range measurements of up to 14 km.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The ongoing work presented in this paper was financed by national funds through FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P.) through CENTRA, project UIDB/00099/2020; funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 870377 (Project No. NEO-MAPP); funded through Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the ICT project UIDP/04683/2020; Portuguese Funds through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the LAETA project UIDB/50022/2020.
Citation
Dias, N.G., Nadal Arribas, B., Gordo, P., Sousa, T., Marinho, J., Melicio, R., Amorim, A. and Michel, P. (2021), "LIDAR altimeter conception for HERA spacecraft", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 93 No. 6, pp. 1018-1028. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-12-2020-0300
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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