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This study used images taken from the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft sample-return mission and projected onto a three-dimensional shape model to determine surface properties of the asteroid (101955) Bennu. Two major projects were completed. For the first project, images of the pre-sampled Nightingale site and post-sampled Nightingale were compared to determine how the TAGSAM sampling maneuver effected the surface of the asteroid directly at the sampling site and in the surrounding area. This analysis demonstrated how spacecraft can potentially affect a small body during this and future sample-return missions. For the second project, several craters on Bennu’s surface were selected and all of the boulders within their rims and up to one crater radius outward from their rims were counted and measured. The interior and exterior of all craters were compared which determined that there is a pattern that supports the existence of a subsurface layer of finer-grained material which could be responsible for cohesion on Bennu and potentially other rubble-pile asteroids

Determining mafic mineral composition of asteroid bodies is a topic reviewed by M.J. Gaffey et al. (2002). The iterative procedure discussed can be implemented as an algorithm, and such efforts revealed weaknesses that are examined in this work. We seek to illustrate the limits of this method and graphically determine its predictions. There are boundaries in the formulae given where the equations break down. In ranges where mafic mixtures are predicted, a method is illustrated that allows a decoupling of these mixtures into the constituents.

Engineering and technical challenges exist with the material transport of natural resources in space. One aspect of this transport problem is the design of an orbit architecture in the Earth-Moon system (EMS) that facilitates these resources through the mining cycle. In this thesis, it is proposed to use the Circular Restricted 3-Body Problem (CR3BP) to design an orbit architecture composed of L3 Lyapunov orbits, hyperbolic invariant stable and unstable manifolds, and geosynchronous (GEO) orbits. A single shooting method (SSM) and natural parameter continuation (NPC) numerical algorithm is used to compute a family of L3 Lyapunov orbits. Invariant Manifold Theory (IMT) is leveraged to find the set of feasible hyperbolic invariant stable and unstable manifolds associated with a L3 Lyapunov orbit. Ideal L3 Lyapunov orbits are chosen to construct an orbit architecture based off favorable metrics like orbital period, Jacobi Constant, and stability index. Manifolds that enter the GEO and xGEO (beyond GEO) volumes are identified. Finally, a ∆V analysis for GEO to manifold transfer is conducted. An achievement of this study is the computation of stable L3 Lyapunov orbits. The primary contribution of this paper lies in its modeling of a L3 Lyapunov orbit architecture using the CR3BP. / Master of Science / Engineering and technical challenges exist with the material transport of natural resources in space. One aspect of this transport problem is the design of an orbit architecture in the Earth-Moon system (EMS) that facilitates these resources through the mining cycle. In this thesis, it is proposed to use the Circular Restricted 3-Body Problem (CR3BP) to design an orbit architecture composed of L3 Lyapunov orbits, hyperbolic invariant stable and unstable manifolds, and geosynchronous (GEO) orbits. L3 is a unique point in space in a rotating frame of reference where the gravity of the Earth and Moon create a dynamical equilibrium point. Due to its location in a rotating frame of reference relative to the Earth and the Moon, orbits around L3 tend to greater stability than L1 or L2. A single shooting method (SSM) and natural parameter continuation (NPC), which are computational methods for finding solutions that connect discrete boundary conditions, numerical algorithm is used to compute a family of L3 Lyapunov orbits. Invariant Manifold Theory (IMT), which is a dynamical system structure that is invariant throughout the action of the system, is leveraged to find the set of feasible hyperbolic invariant stable and unstable manifolds associated with L3 Lyapunov orbits. Ideal L3 Lyapunov orbits and manifolds are chosen to construct an orbit architecture based off favorable metrics like orbital period, Jacobi Constant, and stability index. Manifolds that enter the GEO and xGEO (beyond GEO) volumes are identified. Finally, a ∆V analysis for GEO to manifold transfer is conducted. An achievement of this study is the computation of stable L3 Lyapunov orbits. The primary contribution of this paper lies in its modeling of a L3 Lyapunov orbit architecture using the CR3BP.

Many space probes have conducted in situ explorations of asteroids, in recent decades, intent on identifying evidence of the solar system's earliest processes of formation within the asteroids' interiors. Several future asteroid missions are planned, among which include ESA's Hera mission to explore the Didymos binary asteroid pair. An ion mass analyzer is currently being designed at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics for use as part of the Hera mission. This thesis aims to optimize the instrument such that each of its parameters meets the requirement for performance. A computer simulation is used to calculate the trajectories of low-energy ions inside the instrument, where the electrostatic potential are imposed by grids and electrodes embedded inside the instrument. From the data analysis of the simulation results, the performance for each parameter can be derived. By changing the settings of the grids and electrodes (e.g., positions and voltages), the instrument parameters are to be optimized. Two tasks are set up in this project--- the first task is to optimize the focusing system of the incoming ions at the instrument's entrance, and the second task is to investigate the reflectron system so that the mass resolution of the instrument can be optimized via reducing the spread of the ions' time of flight spectra. The focusing system is found to already be optimized, but instead, a relation between its position of the grid at the instrument's entrance and the instrument's performance is derived. The method of and parameters for optimization within the reflectron are extensively tested individually during this project. Although several performances in each trial from the reflectron analysis cannot meet at least one of the requirements, enough scenarios are examined such that every parameter tested ends with a value suitable to be applied individually to optimize the ion mass analyzer. The findings from the individual tests done in this project can be applied to further optimization, particularly to optimize multiple parameters simultaneously in the near future.

The Gatun Structure (N 09º 05’ 58.1”, W 79º 47’ 21.8”, situated in the triple-canopy rainforest 10 km to the WSW of the Gamboa and about 2 km south of the Isle of Barbacoas, Republic de Panama), is a partially inundated, quasi-concentric surface feature ~3km in diameter, which appears in aerial photographs and in radar imagery as an arcuate chain of islands with a raised center. Although the structure has been heavily weathered and altered, it has retained morphology consistent with complex craters: an elevated circular central uplift 500-600 m in diameter and approximately 70 m high, and arcuate boundary ridges (a rim structure?) ranging from ~50-110 meters high. Within the central peak, highly altered and fractured siltstone of the Gatuncillo Formation (?) (Eocene) ± older rocks are uplifted and exposed through surrounding calcareous units of the Caimito Formation (Oligocene) and the Las Cascadas Formation (Miocene), the major target rocks in the region. Lithologies in the structure include highly fractured siliciclastic rocks (siltstone, sandstones and greywackes), limestones with anomalous spherical glass inclusions, both black and white hypocrystalline glasses (possible melt rocks), lithic fragmental breccias, and melt-bearing breccias (possible impact melt breccias and suevites) containing flow banding and evidence for selective melting of minerals. Three types of spherules (glass, fluid-drop and lithic), a pyroxenequartz “necklace” disequilibrium structure (coronas), plagioclase feldspars exhibiting mosaicism and partially amorphization and zeolitization, possible liquid immiscibility between melts of calcite and felpspathic glass, as well as decomposition of titano-magnetite, are all petrographic criteria that suggest a hypervelocity impact event. The structure is crosscut by numerous dikes of unshocked basalt and basaltic andesite related to volcanism along the Panamanian segment of the Central American arc to the south. However, the lithologies of the Gatun Structure are chemically inconsistent with the regional volcanic rocks and the unshocked volcanic rocks that crosscut the structure. An impact origin is our preferred interpretation for the Gatun structure due to the lack of an igneous relationship between the Gatun structure and the explosive volcanism of Panamanian arc, the presence of classical impactite lithologies within the site, the occurrence of spherules, maskelynite (as suggested by Raman Spectroscopy) and other disequilibrium shock features in the Gatun suite of rocks.

The purpose of this thesis work was to develop a Hardware-in-the-Loop imaging setup that enables experimenting with an event-based and frame-based camera under simulated space conditions. The generated data sets were used to compare visual navigation algorithms in terms of an event-based and frame-based feature detection and tracking algorithm. The comparative analyses of the feature detection and tracking algorithms were used to get insights into the feasibility of event-based vision near-space space objects. Event-based cameras differ from frame-based cameras by how they produce an asynchronous and independent stream of events caused by brightness changes at each pixel instead of capturing images at a fixed rate. The setup design is based on a theoretical framework incorporating optical calculations. These calculations indicating the asteroid model needed to be scaled down by a factor of 3192 to fit inside the camera depth-of-view. This resulted in a scaled Bennu asteroid with a size of 16.44 centimeters.The cameras under testing conducted three experiments to generate data sets. The utilization of a feature detection and tracking algorithm on both camera data sets revealed that the absolute number of tracked features, computation time, and robustness in various scenarios of the frame-based camera algorithm outperforms the event-based camera algorithm. However, when considering the percentages of tracked features relative to the total detected features, the event-based algorithm tracks a significantly higher percentage of features for at least one key frame than the frame-based algorithm.  The comparative analysis of the experiments performed in space-simulated conditions during this project showed that the feasibility of an event-based camera using solely events is low compared to the frame-based camera.

Στην παρούσα διατριβή ασχολούμαστε με την μελέτη περιοδικών και ασυμπτωτικών λύσεων στο περιορισμένο πρόβλημα των τεσσάρων σωμάτων. Πιο συγκεκριμένα: Στο κεφάλαιο 1 περιγράφουμε το πρόβλημα των τριών και των τεσσάρων σωμάτων, κάνοντας μια ιστορική αναδρομή και παραθέτουμε τις αρχικές εξισώσεις της κίνησης. Στο κεφάλαιο 2 μελετάμε αριθμητικά το περιορισμένο πρόβλημα των τεσσάρων σωμάτων, στην Lagrangian διαμόρφωση. Υπολογίζουμε τα σημεία ισορροπίας, καθώς και τις επιτρεπτές περιοχές κίνησης του τέταρτου σώματος. Στο κεφάλαιο 3 μελετάμε την ευστάθεια των σημείων ισορροπίας. Επίσης υπολογίζουμε και παρουσιάζουμε τις περιοχές έλξης, για το δυναμικό σύστημα των τεσσάρων σωμάτων. Στο κεφάλαιο 4 μελετάμε οικογένειες απλών συμμετρικών και μη συμμετρικών περιοδικών τροχιών του περιορισμένου προβλήματος των τεσσάρων σωμάτων. Υπολογίζουμε για κάθε περίπτωση τιμών των μαζών, σειρές κρίσιμων περιοδικών τροχιών κάθε οικογένειας ξεχωριστά. Τέλος στο κεφάλαιο 5 μελετάμε αριθμητικά οικογένειες απλών ασύμμετρων περιοδικών τροχιών στο περιορισμένο πρόβλημα των τεσσάρων σωμάτων, έχοντας θέσει ως πρωτεύοντα σώματα τους ΄Ηλιο - Δία και έναν Τρωικό Αστεροειδή και θεωρώντας ως τέταρτο αμελητέας μάζας σώμα ένα διαστημόπλοιο. Τα πρωτεύοντα σώματα υπακούουν στην ευσταθή Lagrangian τριγωνική διαμόρφωση. Μελετήσαμε επίσης αναλυτικά και αριθμητικά τις λύσεις στην περιοχή των ευσταθών σημείων ισορροπίας του συστήματος, βρήκαmε οικογένειες περιοδικών λύσεων και μελετήσαμε την γραμμική ευστάθεια τους. Τα αποτελέσματα των κεφαλαίων 2,3,4 και 5 έχουν δημοσιευτεί σε τρία διεθνή περιοδικά και ένα κομμάτι του κεφαλαίου 5 παρουσιάστηκε σε διεθνές συνέδριο (με συγγραφείς τους Μπαλταγιάννη Α. και Παπαδάκη Κ.). Πιο συγκεκριμένα η μελέτη των κεφαλαίων 2 και 3 έχει δημοσιευτεί στο περιοδικό “International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos, 21, 2011, pp. 2179-2193” με τον τίτλο: “Equilibrium Points and their stability in the restricted four-body problem”. Τα αποτελέσματα του κεφαλαίου 4 δημοσιεύτηκαν mε τον τίτλο: “Families of periodic orbits in the restricted four-body problem” στο περιοδικό “Astrophysics and Space Science, 336, 2011, pp. 357-367”. Επίσης το κεφάλαιο 5 υπό τον τίτλο “Periodic solutions in the Sun - Jupiter - Trojan Asteroid - Spacecraft system”, δημοσιεύτηκε στο περιοδικό ”Planetary and Space Science, 75, 2013, pp. 148-157”. Το διεθνές συνέδριο στο οποίο παρουσιάστηκε τμήμα του κεφαλαίου 5 ήταν το : “10th Hellenic Astronomical Conference, Proceedings of the conference held at Ioannina, Greece, 5-8 September 2011, pp. 23-24” και η εργασία είχε τίτλο: “Families of periodic orbits in the Sun - Jupiter - Trojan Asteroid system”. Η παρούσα διατριβή εκπονήθηκε με την οικονομική υποστήριξη του ερευνητικού προγράμματος του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών: Κ. Καραθεοδωρή. / In this thesis we are concerned with the periodic and asymptotic solutions of the restricted four - body problem. In chapter 1 we describe the three - body and four - body problem, starting with historical information. We also present the needed equations of motion and integrals of the problem. In chapter 2 we study numerically the problem of four - bodies, according to the Lagrangian equilateral triangle configuration. We find the equilibrium points and the allowed regions of motion. In chapter 3 we study the stability of the relative equibrium solutions. We also illustrate the regions of the basins of attraction for the equilibrium points of the present dynamical model. In chapter 4 we present families of simple symmetric and non-symmetric periodic orbits in the restricted four-body problem. Series of critical periodic orbits of each family and in any case of the mass parameters are also calculated. In chapter 5 we study, numerically, families of simple non-symmetric periodic orbits of the restricted four-body problem, where we consider the three primary bodies as Sun, Jupiter and a Trojan Asteroid and as a massless fourth body, a spacecraft. The primary bodies are set in the stable Lagrangian equilateral triangle configuration. We also study analytically the solutions in the neighborhood of the stable equilibrium points and the linear stability of each periodic solution. The results of the chapters 2,3,4 and 5 have been published in three journals and a part of chapter 5 has been presented in an international conference. Chapters 2 and 3 have been published in “International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos, 21, 2011, pp. 2179-2193” under the title of “Equilibrium Points and their stability in the restricted four-body problem”. Chapter 4 has been titled “Families of periodic orbits in the restricted four- body problem” and published in “Astrophysics and Space Science, 336, 2011, pp. 357-367”. Chapter 5 has been titled “Periodic solutions in the Sun - Jupiter - Trojan Asteroid - Spacecraft system,” and published in “Planetary and Space Science, 75, 2013, pp. 148-157”. The conference was the “10th Hellenic Astronomical Conference, Proceedings of the conference held at Ioannina, Greece, 5-8 September 2011, pp. 23-24” and part of the chapter 5 was presented under the title of “Families of periodic orbits in the Sun - Jupiter - Trojan Asteroid system”. This thesis was compiled while the author was in receipt of “K.Karatheodory” research grant.

Title from PDF of title page. / Document formatted into pages; contains 558 pages. / Original thesis submitted in HTML and can be accessed at http://www.lib.usf.edu/ETD-db/theses/available/etd-10122001-142859/unrestricted/frame.html / td.pdf / Thesis (M.S.)--University of South Florida, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: The Gatun Structure, (Latitude N 09° 05&softsign; 58.1", Longitude W 79° 47&softsign; 21.8", situated in the triple-canopy rainforest 10 km to the WSW of the Gamboa and about 2 km south of the Isle of Barbacoas, Republic de Panama), is a partially inundated, quasi-concentric surface feature 2.2 - 3km in diameter, which appears in aerial photographs and in radar imagery as an arcuate chain of islands with a raised center. Although the structure has been heavily weathered and altered, it has retained morphology consistent with complex craters: an elevated circular central uplift 500-600 m in diameter and 50m high, and arcuate boundary ridges (a rim structure?) ranging from 50-100 meters high. Within the central peak, highly altered and fractured siltstone of the Gatuncillo (?) formation (Eocene) (+-) older rocks are uplifted and exposed through surrounding calcareous units of the Caimito formation (Oligocene) and the Las Cascadas formation (Miocene), the major target rocks in the region. / ABSTRACT: Lithologies in the structure include highly fractured siliciclastic rocks (siltstone, sandstones and greywackes), limestones with anomalous spherical glass inclusions, both black and white hypocrystalline glasses (possible melt rocks), lithic fragmental breccias, and melt-bearing breccias (possible impact melt breccias and suevites), some of which contain flow banding and evidence for selective melting of minerals. Three types of spherules (glass, fluid-drop and lithic), a pyroxene-quartz "necklace" disequilibrium structure (coronas), plagioclase feldspars exhibiting mosaicism and partially amorphization, possible liquid immiscibility between melts of calcite and felpspathic glass, as well as decomposition of titanomagnite or ulvospinel, are all petrographic indicators of a hypervelocity impact event. / ABSTRACT: The structure is crosscut by numerous dikes of unshocked basalt and basaltic andesite related to volcanism along the Panamanian segment of the Central American arc to the south. However, the lithologies of the Gatun Structure are chemically inconsistent with the regional volcanic rocks and the unshocked volcanic rocks that crosscut the structure. The lack of an igneous relationship between the Gatun structure and the explosive volcanism of Panamanian arc the presence of classical shock lithologies within the site, and the occurrence of spherules, maskelynite and other disequilibrium shock features in the rocks, an impact origin is our preferred interpretation for the Gatun structure. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.