The Innovative Interstellar Explorer, studied under a NASA Vision Mission grant, examined sending a probe to a heliospheric distance of 200 Astronomical Units (AU) in a "reasonable" amount of time. Previous studies looked at the use of a near-Sun propulsive maneuver, solar sails, and fission reactor powered electric propulsion systems for propulsion. The Innovative Interstellar Explorer's mission design used a combination of a high-energy launch using current launch technology, a Jupiter gravity assist, and electric propulsion powered by advanced radioisotope power systems to reach 200 AU. Many direct and gravity assist trajectories at several power levels were considered in the development of the baseline trajectory, including single and double gravity assists utilizing the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune). A detailed spacecraft design study was completed followed by trajectory analyses to examine the performance of the spacecraft design options.
Mission Design for the Innovative Interstellar Explorer Vision Mission
29th International Electric Propulsion Conference ; 2005 ; Princeton, NJ, United States
2005-11-01
Report
No indication
English
Mission Design for the Innovative Interstellar Explorer Vision Mission
Online Contents | 2006
|Innovative Explorer Mission to Interstellar Space
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2006
|Innovative Explorer Mission to Interstellar Space
Online Contents | 2006
|The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) Mission
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2005
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