The future of deep space - Exploration comes first, but mining could come second

摘要

In 2024. the German Aerospace Center's (DLR) collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on the Destiny Dust Analyser will commence its journey to the 5.8km diameter asteroid 3200 Phaethon to measure the properties of cosmic dust. The spacecraft will demonstrate the capability of technologies which JAXA hopes to field test for future deep space exploration missions with the use of small launchers, as well as advanced trajectory planning routines, new lightweight solar cells, and electric propulsion. The contract was signed on the 11th of November 2020, stating that DLR would fund the development of Destiny, taking place at the Institute of Space Systems at the University of Stuttgart and that JAXA would fund the mission, launching aboard JAXA's Epsilon rocket.