Parameter resolution of near-Earth asteroids using LISA

¹ Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Gesellschaftsstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
² Center for Space and Habitability, University of Bern, Gesellschaftsstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
³ European Space Agency, ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands

^★ Corresponding authors: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Received: 5 January 2026
Accepted: 14 April 2026

Abstract

Context. The detection and tracking of near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) is critical for planetary defense and for advancing our understanding of the small-body population in the Solar System. Traditional detection techniques, including optical and radar, are the cornerstone of NEA discoveries. However, these are limited by observational constraints such as daylight, weather, and line-of-sight geometry.

Aims. We investigate whether the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), a future space-borne gravitational wave detector, might detect and constrain the parameters of NEAs through their gravitational effect on the spacecraft test masses during a close approach at the minimum orbital intersection distance.

Methods. We modeled the gravitational perturbations of the test masses on the LISA spacecraft exerted by a passing NEA. Based on this, we computed its signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) to determine detectability using the LISA requirements. Furthermore, we used the Fisher information formalism to construct the Fisher matrix and estimate the uncertainties on the state vector and mass of the asteroid given it is detected. These estimates provide a first-order assessment of the LISA capability to resolve NEA parameters under favorable encounter geometries.

Results. The Fisher information study showed that the fractional uncertainty on the asteroid mass scales as the inverse of the S/N. Consequently, a detection with an S/N ≥ 5 yields a mass determination with an uncertainty of ~20% at most. In contrast, the state vectors exhibit considerably larger uncertainties as they depend significantly on the geometry of the close approach. Nevertheless, for very high S/N cases, this precision may be comparable to the uncertainties obtained by some of the current observational methods. The analysis of the correlation matrices confirms that each close encounter produces a specific signal and provides a practical means to assign independent error bars to the recovered state vector. Additionally, this analysis reveals the emergence of recurring patterns linked to similar flyby geometries.