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Allowing Spacecraft to Think Autonomously Could Expand our Asteroid Exploration Opportunities

Missions to asteroids have been on a tear recently. Visits by Rosetta, Osiris-REX, and Hayabusa2 have all visited small bodies and, in some cases, successfully returned samples to Earth. However, as humanity continues to explore asteroids, it will encounter a significant technical challenge – bandwidth. With tens of thousands of asteroids in our vicinity, some of which could pose a threat, launching missions to collect data about each of them would overwhelm our interplanetary communication and control infrastructure. The solution? Letting the spacecraft think for themselves, as proposed in a new paper by researchers at the Federal University of São Paulo and Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research.

The paper primarily addresses the control problem faced when a spacecraft approaches a new asteroid. Current missions require months to approach and rely on constant feedback from ground teams to ensure the spacecraft understands the asteroid’s parameters, especially the gravitational constant.

Some missions have faced challenges in this aspect – for instance, Philae, the lander that accompanied Rosetta, encountered difficulties when it bounced off the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. This was partially attributed to a significant difference between the actual shape of the comet and its observed shape prior to Rosetta’s arrival.

Fraser discusses the possibility of capturing an asteroid.

Even successful missions like OSIRIS-REx require extensive lead-up time to perform basic maneuvers within the context of their overall journey. For example, OSIRIS-REx took 20 days to conduct multiple flybys 7 km above the asteroid’s surface before it was deemed safe to enter a stable orbit.

A crucial aspect mission controllers consider is accurately calculating the asteroid’s gravitational constant. Gravity is challenging to determine from a distance, and errors in calculation can lead to mission failures, as seen with Philae. This begs the question – can a new control scheme address these challenges?

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In essence, an autonomous control scheme could empower spacecraft to make decisions when approaching their target. With a well-defined control system, the risk of failure due to unforeseen circumstances is significantly reduced. This approach could expedite mission approaches, reducing communication bandwidth back to Earth’s mission control.

One use case for quick asteroid missions – mining them, as discussed by Fraser.

Such a system would only require four relatively common sensors to operate efficiently – a LiDAR, two optical cameras for depth perception, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to measure orientation, acceleration, and magnetic field parameters.

The paper delves into the intricate mathematics involved in the control system, some of which incorporate statistical calculations akin to basic learning models. The researchers also conducted trials on two potential asteroid targets to evaluate the system’s performance.

One target, Bennu, was chosen due to its familiarity from the OSIRIS-REx mission. With the proposed control system, a spacecraft could enter a 2000 m orbit within a day of approach and transition to an 800 m orbit the following day – a significant improvement over the months of preparation OSIRIS-REx required. This could be achieved with minimal thrust and fuel, crucial resources on deep-space missions.

Asteroid defense is another important use case for quick asteroid missions, as discussed by Isaac Arthur.
Credit – Isaac Arthur

Another demonstration mission to Eros, the second-largest asteroid near Earth, with its unique elongated shape presents a challenge for automated systems outlined in the paper. While controlling a spacecraft with the new scheme for Eros requires more thrust and fuel compared to a traditional asteroid like Bennu, it still reduces mission time and operational bandwidth.

Autonomous systems are gaining popularity on Earth and in space, with papers like this driving innovation. If simply equipping a spacecraft with a few sensors and implementing a new control algorithm can eliminate months of manual technical work, it is likely that agencies and companies planning asteroid rendezvous missions will adopt this approach.

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Learn More:
Negri et al. – Autonomous Rapid Exploration in Close-Proximity of an Asteroid
UT – Miniaturized Jumping Robots Could Study An Asteroid’s Gravity
UT – How to Make Asteroid Landings Safer
UT – A Spacecraft Could use Gravity to Prevent a Dangerous Asteroid Impact

Lead Image:
Artist’s conception of the Lucy mission to the Trojan asteroids.
Credit – NASA

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Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?

Now may be the time to buy gold following a recent lull in its price.

Getty Images/iStockphoto

The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.

This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.

In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?

Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.

Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?

With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:

Prices may rise again

If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.

But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.

Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.

You may be able to make a quick profit

Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.

Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.

There are other benefits of investing in gold

There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:

Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.

The bottom line

Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.

Joshua Rodriguez

Joshua Rodriguez is a personal finance and investing writer with a passion for his craft. When he’s not working, he enjoys time with his wife, two kids, two dogs and two ducks.