ESA Science & Technology - Numerical simulation of the dust flux on a spacecraft in orbit around an aspherical cometary nucleus - I

Publication date: 02 June 1999

Authors: Fulle, M., Crifo, J.F. and Rodionov, A.V.

Journal: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume: 347
Page: pp. 1009-1028
Year: 1999

Copyright: Astronomy & Astrophysics

This study is the first investigation of the dust collection by a spacecraft orbiting a cometary nucleus, which is based on a physically consistent ab-initio model of the dust distribution in the vicinity of an aspherical comet nucleus. The homogeneous bean-shaped nucleus of Crifo & Rodionov (1997a) is used, with updated parameter values adapted to comet 46P/Wirtanen, target of the Rosetta mission, but the conclusions of the study have a general significance.