Conference proceeding
Innovative Interstellar Explorer
PHYSICS OF THE INNER HELIOSHEATH: VOYAGER OBSERVATIONS, THEORY, AND FUTURE PROSPECTS, Vol.858, pp.341-347
AIP Conference Proceedings
01/01/2006
DOI: 10.1063/1.2359348
Abstract
An interstellar "precursor" mission has been under discussion in the scientific community for at least 30 years. Fundamental scientific questions about the interaction of the Sun with the interstellar medium can only be answered with in situ measurements that such a mission can provide. The Innovative Interstellar Explorer (IIE) and its use of Radioisotope Electric Propulsion (REP) is being studied under a NASA "Vision Mission" grant. Speed is provided by a combination of a high-energy launch, using current launch vehicle technology, a Jupiter gravity assist, and long-term, low-thrust, continuous acceleration provided by an ion thruster running off electricity provided by advanced radioisotope electric generators. A payload of ten instruments with an aggregate mass of similar to 35 kg and requiring similar to 30 W has been carefully chosen to address the compelling science questions. The nominal 20-day launch window opens on 22 October 2014 followed by a Jupiter gravity assist on 5 February 2016. The REP system accelerates the spacecraft to a "burnout" speed of 7.8 AU per year at 104 AU on 13 October 2032 (Voyager 1's current speed is similar to 3.6 AU/yr). The spacecraft will return at least 500 bits per second from at least 200 AU similar to 30 years after launch. Additional (backup) launch opportunities occur every 13 months to early 2018. In addition to addressing basic heliospheric science, the mission will ensure continued information on the far-heliospheric galactic cosmic ray population after the Voyagers have fallen silent and as the era of human Mars exploration begins.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Innovative Interstellar Explorer
- Creators
- Ralph L. McNutt - Johns Hopkins UniversityRobert E. Gold - Johns Hopkins UniversityTom Krimigis - Johns Hopkins UniversityEdmond C. Roelof - Johns Hopkins UniversityMike Gruntman - Univ Southern California, Astronaut & Space Technol Div, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USAGeorge Gloeckler - University of Michigan–Ann ArborPatrick L. Koehn - University of Michigan–Ann ArborWilliam S. Kurth - University of IowaSteven R. Oleson - NASA, Glenn Res Ctr, Cleveland, OH 44135 USADouglas I. Fiehler - NASA, QSS Grp Inc, Glenn Res Ctr, Cleveland, OH 44135 USAMihaly Horanyi - Univ Colorado, Dept Phys, Lab Atmospher & Space Phys, Boulder, CO 80309 USARichard A. Mewaldt - California Institute of TechnologyJames C. Leary - Johns Hopkins UniversityBrian J. Anderson - Johns Hopkins University
- Contributors
- J Heerikhuisen (Editor)Vladimir Florinski (Editor)G P Zank (Editor)N V Pogorelov (Editor)
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding
- Publication Details
- PHYSICS OF THE INNER HELIOSHEATH: VOYAGER OBSERVATIONS, THEORY, AND FUTURE PROSPECTS, Vol.858, pp.341-347
- Publisher
- Amer Inst Physics
- Series
- AIP Conference Proceedings
- DOI
- 10.1063/1.2359348
- ISSN
- 0094-243X
- eISSN
- 1551-7616
- Number of pages
- 2
- Grant note
- NNG04GJ60G / NASA Vision Mission
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2006
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984455365002771
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