Abstract This paper discusses the antimatter-initiated fission of depleted uranium to produce both thrust and electrical power, enabling a mission architecture wherein a 10 kg-scale unmanned spacecraft decelerates and inserts itself into orbit around an exoplanet. A mission to the nearby habitable-zone exoplanet Proxima b is explored as a concrete example. Similar to the Voyager 2 mission, wherein a grand tour of the outer planets justified the spacecraft investment that is still yielding scientific results decades later beyond the heliopause, a program of prompt science results regarding interstellar clouds, Oort cloud population distributions, interstellar magnetic fields, and radiation spectra in the interstellar void are envisioned. This paper will also briefly summarize other results in the areas of antimatter production and storage, spacecraft instrumentation, and other mission objectives.

    Highlights Antimatter-based propulsion for unmanned exploratory missions to exoplanets in such solar systems as Proxima Centauri and Epsilon Eridani. Deceleration of the spacecraft is accomplished by inducing fission of uranium-238 with antiproton annihilations. A low mass propulsion system is matched to a comparably low mass spacecraft architecture. Mission profiles emphasizing early science results are presented due to the long transit time to nearby solar systems. Antimatter production improvements and economics are enabling issues.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Deceleration of Exoplanet Missions Utilizing Scarce Antimatter


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Acta Astronautica ; 197 ; 380-386


    Publication date :

    2022-03-14


    Size :

    7 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    Antimatter Driven Sail for Deep Space Missions

    Howe, S. D. / Jackson, G. P. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2005


    Technology for Future Exoplanet Missions

    Lawson, Peter / Devirian, Michael / van Zyl, Jakob | NTRS | 2011


    Technology for Future Exoplanet Missions

    Lawson, Peter / Devirian, Michael / van Zyl, Jakob | NTRS | 2011


    AIMStar: antimatter initiated microfusion for pre-cursor interstellar missions

    Gaidos, G. / Lewis, R. A. / Meyer, K. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1999