The Planet and Asteroid Natural scene Generation Utility (PANGU) is a software tool used to simulate the surface of asteroids and other planetary bodies. It plays a crucial role in mission planning and the development of navigation and landing systems for spacecraft. PANGU allows scientists and engineers to create detailed models of asteroid surfaces, which are used to test and refine the autonomous systems needed for landing and manoeuvring on these bodies. This capability is essential for missions like HERA and future asteroid landers.
(Credit: Miguel Sanchez Gestido/ PANGU)