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Rotational excitation and damping as probes of interior structures of asteroids and comets
Author(s) -
SAMARASINHA Nalin H.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
meteoritics and planetary science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.09
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1945-5100
pISSN - 1086-9379
DOI - 10.1111/j.1945-5100.2008.tb00693.x
Subject(s) - asteroid , orbiter , astrobiology , spacecraft , context (archaeology) , explosive material , near earth object , excitation , physics , comet , astronomy , geology , geography , paleontology , archaeology , quantum mechanics
Abstract— Rotational excitation and damping are discussed in the context of inferring structural properties of asteroids and comets. Opportunities for carrying out deterministic experiments are outlined and basic concepts involving space missions are discussed. Spacecraft carrying an impactor or explosives together with an orbiter are suggested as effective probes of the interiors of asteroid and comets. The feasibility of such missions, especially to near‐Earth objects (NEOs), is highlighted as NEOs provide an appropriate cost‐effective path to explore interiors of asteroids and comets.