Estimating the thermally induced acceleration of the New Horizons spacecraft

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2017

Authors

Guerra, AGC (Author) Other; Francisco, F (Author) FEUP; Gil, PJS (Author) Other; Bertolami, O (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Physical Review D: Particles and fields

Vol. 95

ISSN: 0556-2821

Publisher: American Physical Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Scopus - 1 Citation

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00M-W6Y

DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.95.124027

Abstract (EN): Residual accelerations due to thermal effects are estimated through a model of the New Horizons spacecraft and a Monte Carlo simulation. We also discuss and estimate the thermal effects on the attitude of the spacecraft. The work is based on a method previously used for the Pioneer and Cassini probes, which solve the Pioneer anomaly problem. The results indicate that after the encounter with Pluto there is a residual acceleration of the order of 10(-9) m/s(2), and that rotational effects should be difficult, although not impossible, to detect.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10