Zusammenfassung
We propose to use a modest fraction of the re-purposed Kepler mission time
and apertures to greatly increase the quantity and quality of our knowledge of
near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) rotation and shape. NEAs are important for
understanding the origins of the Solar System, for selecting targets for
robotic and human visits, and for hazardous object deflection. While NEAs are
being discovered at a rate of 1000/year, only a ~75/year have well-measured
rotation periods and shapes. Not only can the Kepler mission greatly increase
the numbers of well-determined NEA rotation periods (to >1000 in 5 years), but
may do so with order-of-magnitude greater precision than is routinely achieved
from the ground. This will enable 3-D tomographic maps to be produced for the
~250 of the brighter NEAs. A multi-year science program would enable improved
data quality checks, larger samples and additional types of science. All these
numbers are preliminary. We list a number of issues to be resolved before this
program can be properly assessed.
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