Multi-band imaging camera and its sciences for the Japanese near-earth asteroid mission MUSES-C

Abstract

In this paper we present current development status of our Asteroid Multi-band Imaging CAmera (AMICA) for the Japan-US joint asteroid sample return mission MUSES-C. The launch of the spacecraft is planned around the end of 2002 and the whole mission period till sample retrieval on Earth will be approximately five years. The nominal target is the asteroid 1998SF36, one of the Amor-type asteroids. The AMICA specifications for the mission are shown here along with its ground-based and inflight calibration methods. We also describe the observational