![](\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/var\/esa\/storage\/images\/esa_multimedia\/videos\/2016\/02\/aim_s_eye_view_of_asteroids\/15822495-1-eng-GB\/AIM_s_eye_view_of_asteroids_small.png\")
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\nA simulation of the view ESA\u2019s Asteroid Impact Mission will see as it closes in on its targeted double asteroid system to put down a microlander on the smaller of the two bodies.\n<\/p>\n
\nA representative camera mounted on a robotic arm<\/a> was moved relative to an actual rotating model of the Didymos binary asteroid system.\n<\/p>\n \nThis \u2018in-the-loop\u2019 testing was performed at its ESTEC technical centre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, by the Agency\u2019s Guidance, Navigation and Control section in conjunction with its Automation and Robotics section\n<\/p>\n \nAIM<\/a> is a candidate mission of opportunity currently undergoing detailed design work, ahead of a go\/no go decision at the end of this year.\n<\/p>\n \nWith a planned launch window opening in October 2020, AIM would be humanity\u2019s first mission to a binary asteroid system, putting down a lander on the smaller asteroid of the pair and providing detailed before-and-after mapping as part of the larger Asteroid Impact & Deflection Assessment mission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \nA simulation of the view ESA’s Asteroid Impact Mission will see as it closes in on its targeted double asteroid system to put down a microlander on the smaller of the two bodies.\n<\/p>\n \nA representative camera mounted on a robotic arm<\/a> was moved relative to an actual rotating model of the Didymos binary asteroid system.\n<\/p>\n \nThis ‘in-the-loop’ testing was performed at its ESTEC technical centre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, by the Agency’s Guidance, Navigation and Control section in conjunction with its Automation and Robotics section\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n