A nanolander for a space mission to an active asteroid in the main belt

Ho, T.M.; Kührt, E.; Zhang, X.J.; Auster, U.; Biele, J.; Grott, M.; Grundmann, J.T.; He, H.; Hördt, A.; Huang, J.C.; Ma, T.; Mottola, S.; Otto, K.; Plettemeier, D.; Qin, L.; Rubin, M.; Schmitz, N.; Ulamec, S.; Vincent, J.B. (2023). A nanolander for a space mission to an active asteroid in the main belt. Acta astronautica, 213, pp. 49-70. Elsevier 10.1016/j.actaastro.2023.08.024

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A nanolander (CALICUT) with a total mass of about 10 kg was proposed in response to the CNSA (China National Space Administration) Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for an Asteroid Exploration Mission (AEM) by a joint European-Chinese team to operate on an active asteroid in the main belt. CALICUT is a further development of the MASCOT lander that flew on the Hayabusa2 mission to asteroid Ryugu. The nanolander was designed with mobility and autonomy capabilities. It will be able to operate for at least 6 weeks to measure the physical, morphological and compositional properties of the target. The data can be used to derive answers to scientific questions, such as what drives activity on active asteroids, and identify similarities and differences between inactive asteroids and classical comets. CALICUT carries a payload of four scientific instruments with a total mass of about 2 kg to provide unique measurements that can only be done directly on the surface.

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