Abstract
Rapid Response Missions to Explore Fast, High-Value Targets such as Interstellar Objects and Long Period Comets
Highlights
Executive SummaryWe advocate for enabling rapid response strategies to reach fast, high-value science targets such as interstellar objects (ISOs), Oort Cloud Comets (OCCs), and Planetary Defense targets (Near Earth Objects, NEOs)
Astrophysics – Direct observations of ISOs represent an opportunity for cross divisional science with the NASA Astrophysics Division(National Research Council, 2010), since science done at interstellar objects are direct samples of exoplanetary systems
Oort cloud comets and Interstellar objects hold key information regarding the early history of our solar system and the nature of exoplanetary systems
Summary
We advocate for enabling rapid response strategies to reach fast, high-value science targets such as interstellar objects (ISOs), Oort Cloud Comets (OCCs), and Planetary Defense targets (Near Earth Objects, NEOs). Rapid response strategies are required for fast targets since these objects typically have short windows of discovery before their closest approach to Earth. We advocate for specific revisions to NASA policies to enable rapid response architectures including flexible targets, launch dates, pre-planned spacecraft storage, and an expansion of the SmallSat program. This white paper focuses on missions to Oort Cloud Comets and interstellar objects, the policy recommendations we present here would enable missions to a broader range of targets
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