Guidance, navigation, and control testing for the #HeraMission is using, among other things, a 3D print of a scaled model of the asteroid #Itokawa as a stand-in for the asteroid #Dimorphos - despite their quite different shapes: https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Hera/Virtual_flying_lessons_for_Hera_asteroid_mission .
But I am aware of previous imaging tests on other projects that used random machine parts to represent a rock pile.
So this is a fine choice.



