A Survey of Possible Missions to the Periodic Comets in the Interval 1974-2010

摘要

In order to survey the mission possibilities for the short period comets two catalogues are developed. In the first the physical and pertinent orbital characteristics are given for 65 short period comets. Since missions for short period comets are for the most part expected to utilize arrivals near perihelion at a time when the comet is comparatively natives the second catalogue is one containing the perihelia for ench of the 65 comets between 197A and 2010. Included is enough geometry to indicate feasibility of Earth-based observation and sighting within 100 days of perihelion.nMission selection criteria and trajectory requirements are discussed with the aim of providing the background for catagorizing the possibilities. The comets are then divided essentially on the basis of size and activity into three groups of interest from the data in the first catalogue: primary, secondary and low interest.