Abstract A novel concept for asteroid orbit control by restructuring asteroid surfaces to manipulate albedo and respective radiation pressure effects is introduced. The method itself is propellant-less allowing for prolonged operation and permitting the adaption and even reversing reflection changes. Microscopic restructuring of asteroid surface material allows further for asymmetric manipulation of reflective properties, which can be exploited for influencing orbit and attitude parameters. Asymmetric radiation pressures are well known for their ability to change the orbit of an asteroid through the Yarkovsky effect or rotational parameters by the YORP effect. It is shown that in the simplest form albedo manipulation of a solid surface asteroid can be achieved with a single spacecraft mission. A spacecraft will locally focus energy from a very low (pseudo-)orbit onto the asteroids surface. One technology candidate are CO2 laser systems, while other options exist. First, CO2 laser are used as conventional laser engravers to brighten mineralic and metallic surfaces. Second, CO2 laser cleaning systems are often used to remove silicate residue of industrial processes. It is calculated that an asteroid with a high albedo will experience significantly less Yarkovsky forces, resulting in reduced orbit drift and improved future predictability. Laser technology can further be exploited to create surface structures that represent an asymmetric saw tooth pattern (i.e. repeating sharp right triangles) by using femto second laser pulses or by an angled focal point. This asymmetric surface pattern leads to an angular dependent reflectivity, which can be exploited to create radiation pressure differences. When properly applied, countering spin-rate changes and rotation axis drift of the YORP effect is possible. A preliminary analysis indicates feasibility for a medium size probe equipped for laser treatment of Near Earth Object surfaces.

中文翻译：

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通过表面重组控制小行星

摘要 介绍了通过重构小行星表面来操纵反照率和相应辐射压力效应的小行星轨道控制的新概念。该方法本身是无推进剂的，允许长时间运行并允许适应甚至逆转反射变化。小行星表面材料的微观重组允许进一步对反射特性进行不对称操纵，这可用于影响轨道和姿态参数。众所周知，不对称辐射压力能够通过 Yarkovsky 效应或 YORP 效应改变小行星的旋转参数来改变小行星的轨道。结果表明，单次航天器任务可以实现对固体表面小行星的最简单形式的反照率操纵。航天器会将来自极低（伪）轨道的能量局部集中到小行星表面。一种候选技术是 CO2 激光系统，而其他选项也存在。首先，CO2 激光被用作传统的激光雕刻机来增亮矿物和金属表面。其次，CO2 激光清洗系统通常用于去除工业过程中的硅酸盐残留物。据计算，具有高反照率的小行星将受到明显较少的雅可夫斯基力，从而减少轨道漂移并提高未来的可预测性。通过使用飞秒激光脉冲或成角度的焦点，可以进一步利用激光技术来创建代表不对称锯齿图案（即重复尖锐直角三角形）的表面结构。这种不对称的表面图案导致依赖于角度的反射率，可用于产生辐射压差。如果应用得当，可以抵消 YORP 效应的自旋速率变化和旋转轴漂移。初步分析表明，配备用于近地天体表面激光处理的中型探测器是可行的。