Project Lyra: Another possible trajectory to 1I/’Oumuamua

Abstract

The first interstellar object to be discovered, 1I/’Oumuamua, exhibited various unusual properties as it was tracked on its passage through the inner solar system in 2017/2018. In terms of the potential scientific return, a spacecraft mission to intercept and study it in situ would be invaluable. As an extension to previous Project Lyra studies, this paper elaborates an alternative mission to 1I/’Oumuamua, this time also requiring a Jupiter Oberth Manoeuvre (JOM) to accelerate the spacecraft towards its destination. The difference is in the combination of planetary flybys exploited to get to Jupiter, which includes a Mars encounter before proceeding to Jupiter. The trajectory identified is inferior to previous finds in terms of higher ΔV requirement (15.6 kms−1), longer flight duration (29 years) and less mission preparation time (launch 2026), however it benefits from a feature absent from previous JOM candidates, in that there is little or no ΔV en route to Jupiter (i.e. a free ride) which means the spacecraft need not carry a liquid propellant stage. This is marginally offset by the higher ΔV needed at Jupiter, requiring either 2 or 3 staged solid rocket motors. As an example, a Falcon Heavy Expendable with a CASTOR 30B booster followed by a STAR 48B can deliver 102kg to 1I/’Oumuamua by the year 2059. Other scenarios with shorter flight durations and higher payload masses are possible.