Gravitational Lens: Deep Space Probe Design

Abstract

A number of interstellar precursor missions have been designed, but they have all made use of unproven future technologies. This research focuses on designing an interstellar precursor mission to the gravitational lens that can be manufactured solely with today's technology. The design includes an examination of trip time and trajectory, a system trade between subsystems, a launch vehicle analysis and an overall spacecraft performance analysis. The trip time was found to be approximately 108 years using the NEXT thruster and GPHS power source. The GPHS provided approximately 4 kW of power at BOL. The communications subsystem relied on a 12 meter high gain antenna, which also serves as the primary payload, and a 2 meter medium gain antenna. Finally, the estimated mission cost is 3-5 billion USD.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA559974

Entities

People

  • Berkley R. Davis

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Charged Particles
  • Control Systems
  • Deep Space
  • Electric Power
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Environment
  • Payload
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Solar Panels
  • Space Environments
  • Space Probes
  • Spacecraft
  • Stirling Radioisotope Generators
  • Thrusters

Fields of Study

  • Engineering
  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Technology.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Satellites