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  • session 4

    Title

    Strategies for Rapid Implementation of Interstellar Missions: Precursors and Beyond

    type

    oral

    Description

    Knowledge about space beyond our solar system and between the stars—that is interstellar space —is lacking data. Even as IBEX, NASA’s Interstellar Background Explorer, studies the edge of our solar system, it still is confined to earth orbit. Arguably, some of the most compelling data to understand the universe we live in will come from sampling the actual environment beyond our solar system as Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft are on the threshold of doing. In the 36 years since the Voyager probes’ launches, significant advances in materials science, analytical chemistry, information technologies, imaging capabilities, communications and propulsion systems have been made. The recently released IAA study: “Key Technologies to Enable Near-Term Interstellar Scientific Precursor Missions” along with significant initiatives like the DARPA seed-funded 100 Year Starship and the Breakthrough Starshot project, signal the need, readiness and benefits to aggressively undertaking interstellar space missions. This session seeks to define specific strategies and key enabling steps to implement interstellar precursor missions within the next 10-15 years. Suggestions for defined projects, payloads, teams, spacecraft and mission profiles that leverage existing technological capacities, yet will yield probes that generate new information about deep space, rapidly exit the solar system and which can be launched before 2040 are sought.

    IPC members
    • Co-Chair: Dr. Mae Jemison, 100 Year Starship, United States;

    • Co-Chair: Prof. Giancarlo Genta, Politecnico di Torino, Italy;

    • Rapporteur: Mr. Les Johnson, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Marshall Space Flight Center, United States;

    papers

    Order

    Time

    Paper title

    Mode

    Presentation status

    Speaker

    Affiliation

    Country

    1

    Interstellar Probe: Science Discoveries at the Boundary to Interstellar Space and Beyond

    10

    confirmed

    Dr. Pontus Brandt

    Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

    United States

    2

    Rapid Access to the Interstellar Medium: A Feasibility Study

    confirmed

    Dr. Leon Alkalai

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Jet Propulsion Laboratory

    United States

    3

    A Pragmatic Interstellar Probe Mission: Progress and Status

    10

    confirmed

    Dr. Ralph L. McNutt, Jr.

    The John Hopkins University

    United States

    4

    System Engineering a Solar Thermal Propulsion Mission Concept for Rapid Interstellar Medium Access

    10

    confirmed

    Dr. Jonathan Sauder

    Jet Propulsion Laboratory - California Institute of Technology

    United States

    5

    Vaporization of interplanetary dust during the acceleration phase of a laser-driven lightsail

    10

    confirmed

    Ms. Monika Azmanska

    McGill University

    Canada

    6

    Feasibility assessment of deceleration technologies for interstellar probes

    10

    confirmed

    Mr. Kush Kumar Sharma

    International Space University (ISU)

    France

    8

    Case Study of an Interstellar Mission to Altair: Foundations for Interstellar Travel with Advanced 21st Century Technology

    10

    confirmed

    Dr. Ugur Guven

    UN CSSTEAP

    United States

    9

    Interstellar Travel: Possibility or a Dream – Plausibility Analysis

    10

    confirmed

    Dr. Ugur Guven

    UN CSSTEAP

    United States

    10

    Comprehensive Case Study of an Interstellar Travel to Barnard's Star via Electric Ion Propulsion employing Semi-Relativistic flight Parameter

    10

    confirmed

    Ms. Kirti Vishwakarma

    University of Petroleum and Energy Studies

    India

    11

    A Feasibility Analysis of Interstellar Ramjet Concepts

    10

    confirmed

    Ms. Taavishe Gupta

    International Space University (ISU)

    France

    13

    Technologies Evolution for Interstellar Travel capability

    10

    confirmed

    Mr. Giorgio Gaviraghi

    Unispace Exponential Creativity

    Italy

    14

    Sustainable Design for Extended Space Travel, Apprised

    10

    confirmed

    Mr. Antoine Faddoul

    Tony Sky Designs Group

    United States