Interstellar Heliopause Probe: System Design of a Solar Sail Mission to 200 AU

Abstract

In-situ exploration of the Heliopause and the Heliospheric interface would allow the science community to answer a number of basic scientific questions with respect to the impact cosmic rays have on the long-term conditions of the Earth environment and on Earth itself. Following a number of studies in the past, the paper discusses a unique and novel spacecraft conceptual design referred to as the Interstellar Heliopause Probe (IHP), to reach the Heliopause. Recent advances in solar sail research, miniaturisation and trajectory design can potentially lead to a spacecraft configuration feasible to reach the Heliopause with low mass and power requirements. The study follows certain design requirements imposed by the European Space Agency’s Technology Reference Studies (TRS). The TRS studies focus on the development of strategically important technologies of likely relevance to future science missions. The IHP probe is a solar sail based probe. A ‘photonic assist’ trajectory is developed and optimized in order to boost the IHP ∆V by performing two approaches close to the sun (0.25 AU). The solar sail based IHP design will require a 245 m sail with an ejectable sail deployment structure. After 6.5 years of flight time the sail module of the IHP is ejected and the science platform begins its cruise phase to the Heliopause. A novel design, using existing and near-term technologies is detailed resulting to a 517 kg spacecraft capable of reaching 200 AU’s in 30 years, with a potential launch date after 2010.