MONET: The Minor Body Generator Tool at DART Lab

Area of Science:

• Planetary Science
• Computer Graphics
• Robotics

Background:

• Spacecraft operations face challenges due to the unpredictable shapes and surfaces of minor bodies.
• Inaccurate ground-based estimations further complicate navigation and mission planning.
• The need for autonomous systems in space exploration is increasing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a procedural tool for generating diverse and realistic 3D models of minor bodies.
• To provide a resource for testing and validating navigation techniques under various morphological conditions.
• To address the limitations in simulating minor body characteristics for mission design.

Main Methods:

• The Minor bOdy geNErator Tool (MONET) was developed using open-source 3D computer graphics software.
• MONET procedurally modifies a base 3D mesh by adding features like craters, boulders, and surface roughness.
• The tool generates photorealistic models, including rubble-pile and comet-like morphologies, with user-adjustable parameters.

Main Results:

• MONET successfully generates a wide array of minor body shapes and surface features.
• The generated models offer photorealistic representations suitable for simulation.
• The tool can create distinct model families, such as rubble-pile and comet-like bodies.

Conclusions:

• MONET provides a flexible and valuable resource for simulating minor body environments.
• The tool aids in testing the adaptability of guidance and navigation systems for space missions.
• It supports researchers and engineers in preparing for diverse minor body exploration scenarios.