MIT Professor Proposes Fleet of Pre-Positioned Satellites Ready To Orbit Interstellar Comets (mit.edu) 21
A Slashdot reader quotes MIT News:
To closely observe an interstellar object (ISO) hurtling through space, time is of the essence. Richard Linares, an assistant professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT, developed a concept for a "dynamic orbital slingshot for rendezvous with interstellar objects." He outlined his idea in a research proposal that was recently selected as a Phase 1 study in the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program, which "funds innovative aerospace concepts that could enable and transform future missions...."
Linares envisions deploying a constellation of statites, or "static satellites" enabled by a solar sail constructed with just the right mass-to-area ratio to act as interstellar watchdogs along the edges of our solar system, lying in wait until roused by an ISO crossing our threshold. Once detected, the solar sail then enables the statite to switch gears quickly and spring into action. Since the statite has a velocity of zero, it is already in position for efficient trajectory. Once released, the stored energy in the solar sail would leverage the gravitational pull of the sun to slingshot the statite in a freefall trajectory towards the ISO, allowing it to catch up. If the timing is right, the statite could tag the ISO with a CubeSat armed with onboard sensors to orbit the ISO over an extended period of time, gathering important scientific data.
Linares envisions deploying a constellation of statites, or "static satellites" enabled by a solar sail constructed with just the right mass-to-area ratio to act as interstellar watchdogs along the edges of our solar system, lying in wait until roused by an ISO crossing our threshold. Once detected, the solar sail then enables the statite to switch gears quickly and spring into action. Since the statite has a velocity of zero, it is already in position for efficient trajectory. Once released, the stored energy in the solar sail would leverage the gravitational pull of the sun to slingshot the statite in a freefall trajectory towards the ISO, allowing it to catch up. If the timing is right, the statite could tag the ISO with a CubeSat armed with onboard sensors to orbit the ISO over an extended period of time, gathering important scientific data.
Dreamer (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
We're going to double our national debt this year and he's thinking space shots? Dreamer.
Think about that: we could have at least spent that printed largesse putting people to work building durable infrastructure, rather than just dropping it from helicopters. As viewed by economists, Donald Trump is therefore much more of a socialist than Franklin Roosevelt was.
Re: (Score:3)
cool (Score:1)
I'm going to have to try this mission plan in KSP.
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and 'sligshots' around the Sun, when it has no relative motion to the Sun.
Re:cool (Score:4, Insightful)
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Be sure to let us know how a satellite "hovers in place" and "has a velocity of zero".
The "statite" has zero velocity relative to the sun, by using solar sails to balance the gravitational attraction. ( I read this in TFS.)
If the sail is detached it will "drop" toward the sun, or with a slight sideways push, into a very elongated orbit.
But the rest is very unclear. How can the sail "slingshot" the craft? How much delta V are they talking about?
The craft will only be able to do a short flyby, as Oumuamua had an interstellar speed of 26 km/s. No way can the craft manage that, but another arti
Nope. (Score:2)
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Re: Nope. (Score:2)
Solar sails (Score:4, Insightful)
the stored energy in the solar sail
Is this some new meaning of "solar sail" or is the author just bluffing? It makes as much sense as storing wind power in a canvas sail.
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Unfortunately, the NIAC site [nasa.gov] says "NIAC program officials have temporarily removed study report documents" for all studies.
tuition refund (Score:1)
Our solar system is a sphere.... (Score:3)
And if we're going to do that, we may as well build the frame for a Dyson Sphere.
Comet Interceptor (Score:3)
Paid for by... (Score:1)