Mission Design for the Innovative Interstellar Explorer Vision Mission

摘要

The Innovative Interstellar Explorer mission was studied under a NASA Vision Mission grant and its goal is to send a probe to a heliospheric distance of 200 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.