Chang'e 2 flyby of Toutatis (Han Li, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

The above topic was mentioned on the FPSPACE list and I thought I would take a look.

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/meetings/jan2013/presentations/sbag8_presentations/TUES_0930_CE_Toutatis.pdf

- LRK -

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http://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/

Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG)

The Small Bodies Assessment Group was established by NASA in March 2008 to identify scientific priorities and opportunties for the exploration of asteroids, comets, interplanetary dust, small satellites, and Trans-Neptunian Objects. SBAG also provides scientific input on the utility of asteroids and comets in support of human space activities. The group consists of several focus groups of open membership and an eight person steering committee. Input from the scientific community is actively sought. SBAG provides findings to NASA Headquarters, but does not make recommendations.

SBAG Charter

The SBAG is NASA's community-based forum designed to provide science input for planning and prioritizing the exploration of small bodies throughout the Solar System for the next several decades. It also provides input on how small bodies can be utilized in support of human space activities. The SBAG is chartered by NASA's Planetary Science Division and reports its findings at meetings of the Planetary Science Subcommittee of the NASA Advisory Council's Science Committee. It is open to all interested scientists. The SBAG regularly evaluates the goals, objectives, investigations, and required measurements for the exploration of small bodies on the basis of the widest possible community outreach. If you are interested in becoming a member of SBAG, please fill out the Indication of Interest Form.

See SBAG Terms of Reference

Recent Meeting

8th Meeting of the NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group Meeting
January 14–16, 2013
Washington, DC

Agenda and Presentations

snip

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Take a look at the Agenda and Presentations.

I will have to check out the PDF files.

- LRK -

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http://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/meetings/jan2013/agenda.shtml

8th MEETING OF THE NASA SMALL BODIES ASSESSMENT GROUP

January 14–16, 2013
Liaison Capitol Hill
Washington DC

Agenda

MONDAY, January 14


8:30–9:15 a.m.	Welcome. Activities since last meeting, PSS report, NEOO, Discovery and New Frontiers program status. (Mark Sykes, PSI; Lindley Johnson, NASA HQ)

snip

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15


Missions —

9:00–9:30 a.m.	Hayabusa 2 (Jun Kawaguchi, JAXA)

9:30–10:15 a.m.	Chang'e 2 flyby of Toutatis (Han Li, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

10:15–10:30 a.m.	Toutatis radar imaging campaign (Michael Busch, UCLA by Webex)

10:30–10:45 a.m.	Break

snip

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See abstracts of the previous meetings findings at the link and PDF files for more information.

Now I really have a lot to catch up on.

- LRK -

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http://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/findings/

SBAG Findings and NASA HQ Responses

FINDINGS FROM SBAG 7, JULY 10–11, 2012

FINDINGS FROM SBAG 6, JANUARY 17–18, 2012

FINDINGS FROM SBAG 5, AUGUST 25–26, 2011

FINDINGS ON THE 2ND PLANETARY DECADAL SURVEY, APRIL 21, 2011

FINDINGS FROM SBAG 4, JANUARY 24–26, 2011

FINDINGS FROM SBAG 3, AUGUST 3–4, 2010

FINDINGS FROM SBAG 2, NOVEMBER 18–19, 2009

FINDINGS FROM SBAG 1, JANUARY 12–11, 2009

FINDINGS FROM SBAG 7, JULY 10–11, 2012

August 2, 2012

(1) The Discovery program has substantially collapsed as a source of planetary missions. In its first decade (1992–2001), ten missions were selected for launch. During its second decade (2002–2011), only one was selected.

Implementation of the planetary decadal survey recommendation for a 24–month cadence
of Discovery AOs is imperative.

Merging the Mars Scout program with Discovery puts yet further pressure on this program. Restoring the Discovery program to two selections for launch per call is very important to
the future of American solar system exploration.

It is noted that one new selection is pending as of this date. The next planned Discovery opportunity is currently delayed until 2015. Within the resources it has for missions and mission planning activities, NASA and the Planetary Science Division should work to provide a Discovery opportunity sooner than 2015, as advocated by the decadal survey.

DISCOVERY HISTORY (Initial selections: NEAR, Pathfinder)

AO Date      Missions (and year selected)
1994:           Lunar Prospector, Stardust (1995)
1996:           Genesis, CONTOUR (1997)
1998:           Deep Impact, MESSENGER (1999)
2000:           Kepler, Dawn (2001)
2002:           *No AO Released*
2004:           *No Mission Selection*
2006:           GRAIL (2007)
2008:          *No AO Released*
2010:           Not yet selected (selection expected in 2012)

snip

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So much to learn, so little time.

- LRK -