Asteroid and NEA detection models

Abstract

We determine the possible detection rate of asteroids with the Bering mission. In particular we examine the outcome of the Bering mission in relation to the populations of Near-Earth Asteroids and main belt asteroids. This is done by constructing synthetic populations of asteroids, based on the current best estimates of the asteroid size-distributions. From the detailed information obtained from the simulations, the scientific feasibility of Bering is demonstrated and the key technical requirement for the scientific instruments on Bering is determined.