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| Depiction of IKAROS space-probe with solar sail in flight: credit: Andrzej Mirecki |
By means of space exploration, we have reached not only our closest
celestial neighbor, the moon, but also ventured into the expansive territory
of our expansive solar system, home to colossal bodies like Saturn and
Jupiter.
Back in 1982, Voyager 2 had ventured past Uranus at a proximity unmatched by
any other spacecraft to date. Presently, Voyager 2 continues its journey
through the Pavo constellation, 17.9 light hours away from our planet,
nearly five decades after it was launched.
There have been limited satellite missions of a similar nature in recent
times. The biggest barrier is the expense, however, the timeframe is also a
consideration. A considerable amount of time, approximately a decade, is
required to plan and construct a space vehicle for lengthy expeditions,
which entails years of meticulous calculations for the design. Considering
the amount of time necessary for a satellite to travel to faraway
destinations, it seems improbable that we will have another opportunity to
observe celestial bodies in the near future.
A group of researchers, headed by Slava Turyshev from the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology, who were responsible
for launching the Voyager satellites in 1977, are eager to resume space
exploration. The team suggests a new mode of transportation that has the
potential to enable us to travel to the stars in a quicker and more
economical manner.
Turyshev and over twenty researchers from Europe and the US have suggested a
cost-effective, swift and lightweight mode of transport by integrating
miniature satellite units with a solar energy system, as described in a
paper released on the arXiv preprint server.
Utilizing the power of the sun's radiation to generate propulsion is known
as solar sailing. The LightSail-2 project by the Planetary Society showcased
successful advancements in this technology through a well-received
crowdfunding mission conducted in 2019.
According to the scholars, solar sails gain propulsion through the
utilization of light, reflective and less dense materials which reflect sun
rays to drive a spacecraft while in the outer space. The persistent photon
pressure emanating from the sun generates force, making it unnecessary to
rely on bulky and disposable propellants used in traditional chemical and
electric propulsion methods that curtail mission duration and potential
observation spots.
According to some individuals, sails offer a more cost-effective alternative
to the pricey equipment currently utilized for propulsion. They also claim
that the constant solar photon pressure emanating from the sun can be
harnessed for diverse vehicular maneuvers, such as rapid orbital plane
changes or hovering.
According to the report, advances in solar sails and miniaturization over
the last decade have enhanced to a level where they could potentially
facilitate cost-effective and exciting missions to venture deeper and
quicker into the outer areas of our solar system.
The fusion of these two technologies has been labeled by researchers as the
Sundiver Concept.
The report suggests that sailcraft which are speedy, economical, and easy to
steer are capable of traversing beyond the ecliptic plane, which can lead to
more reasonably-priced exploration of the solar system. This development has
enormous potential for the fields of heliophysics, planetary science, and
astrophysics.
Thanks to its improved agility, the spacecraft is capable of conveniently
transporting insignificant loads to various locations when necessary, and
has the ability to attach itself to corresponding detachable vessels.
According to the researchers, significant cost savings can be achieved
through the use of the sun and a smaller carrier that does not need a
specific launch site. They note that the current high costs are largely due
to reliance on chemical propulsion, which is slow and expensive and cannot
sustain the current approach to exploring the solar system. An innovative
method needs to be employed.
According to the Universe Today website, it was noted this week that NASA's
support for the project could lead to the emergence of a group of speedy
solar sailing probes that could traverse the solar system in a matter of
years. It would be quite a spectacle to behold.
Reference:
Slava G. Turyshev et al, Science opportunities with solar sailing smallsats,
arXiv (2023).
DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2303.14917
Tags:
Space & Astrophysics