session 4

Title

Strategies for Rapid Implementation of Interstellar Missions: Precursors and Beyond

Description

Knowledge about space beyond our solar system and between the stars—that is interstellar space —is lacking data. Even as IBEX, NASA’s Interstellar Background Explorer, studies the edge of our solar system, it still is confined to earth orbit. Arguably, some of the most compelling data to understand the universe we live in will come from sampling the actual environment beyond our solar system as Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft are on the threshold of doing. In the 36 years since the Voyager probes’ launches, significant advances in materials science, analytical chemistry, information technologies, imaging capabilities, communications and propulsion systems have been made. The recently released IAA study: “Key Technologies to Enable Near-Term Interstellar Scientific Precursor Missions” along with significant initiatives like the DARPA seed-funded 100 Year Starship and the Breakthrough Starshot project, signal the need, readiness and benefits to aggressively undertaking interstellar space missions. This session seeks to define specific strategies and key enabling steps to implement interstellar precursor missions within the next 10-15 years. Suggestions for defined projects, payloads, teams, spacecraft and mission profiles that leverage existing technological capacities, yet will yield probes that generate new information about deep space, rapidly exit the solar system and which can be launched before 2040 are sought.

IPC members

• Co-Chair: Dr. Mae Jemison, 100 Year Starship, United States;

• Co-Chair: Prof. Giancarlo Genta, Politecnico di Torino, Italy;

• Rapporteur: Mr. Les Johnson, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Marshall Space Flight Center, United States;