Interstellar Probe Study Webinar Series The Interstellar Probe Study – Year 2 Update Ralph L. McNutt, Jr. Study Principal Investigator Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory 12:05 PM Thursday, 28 May 2020 Interstellar Probe Study Website http://interstellarprobe.jhuapl.edu
Study Status • Initial study phase awarded 13 June 2018 - Briefed to NASA HQ 7 March 2019 - Effort extended to cover presentations to workshop of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow – Week of 27 May 2019 • “Next Phase Concept Development” 25 July 2019 - Period of performance is 13 June 2018 through 30 April 2020 - 6-month progress briefing to NASA HQ 29 January 2020 • Similar to early concept work on “Solar Probe” 2002 – 2004 • Technical Report to be delivered late 2021 for input to next Solar and Space Physics Decadal Survey Interstellar Probe Webinar Episode 002 28 May 2020 2
“Interstellar Probe” • … is a mission through the outer heliosphere and to the nearby “Very Local” interstellar medium (VLISM) • … uses today’s technology to take the first explicit step on the path of interstellar exploration (faster than the Voyagers – on an SLS or commercial equivalent) • … can pave the way, scientifically, technically, and programmatically for more ambitious future journeys (and more ambitious science goals) Interstellar Probe Webinar Episode 002 28 May 2020 3
This is *not* about “Interstellar Travel” (“Atlantic mode”) • Robert Goddard’s “Great Migration” (14 January 1918) • F. A. Tsander “Flights to Other Planets and to the Moon” - XIII. Slowing of life and possibility of returning to earth alive after millions of years, by flying at velocity near the speed of light, according to Einstein's theory of relativity. Possibility of flying through all of interstellar space. – notes 1920s • Relativistic rocket mechanics, J. ACKERET, Zur Theorie der Rakete. Helvet. Physica Acta 19, 103 (1946) • Photon rockets E. SANGER, Zur Flugmechanik der Photonenraketen. Astronaut. Acta 3,89 (1957). - Die Erreichbarkeit der Fixsterne. Proceedings of the VIIth International Astronautical Congress, Rome 1956. Roma: Associazione Italian a Razzi, 1956. - Zur Mechanik der Photonen-Strahlantriebe. Mtinchen: R. Oldenbourg, 1956. • Reaching the nearer stars (<25 light years) W. PESCHKA, Über die tiberbrtickung interstellarer Entfernungen. Astronaut. Acta 2, 191 (1956). • Interstellar fusion ramjets, R. W . BUSSARD, Galactic Matter and Interstellar Flight. Astronaut. Acta 6, 179 (1960). • Ultimate limits, S. V. HOERNER, The General Limits of Space Travel. Science 187, 18 (1962). Interstellar Probe Webinar Episode 002 28 May 2020 4
Or Colonization (!) (“Polynesian mode”) • J. D. Bernal “The World, The Flesh, and The Devil” (1929), Dandridge M. Cole and Roy G. Scarfo “Beyond Tomorrow: The Next 50 Years in Space” (1965), Isaac Asimiov “How Far Will We Go in Space?” (1966) • Stephen H. Dole “Habitable Planets for Man” (1964) • “Interstellar Communication” A. G. W. Cameron, ed. (1963) • “A Program for Interstellar Exploration” Robert L. Forward (1976) Interstellar Probe Webinar Episode 002 28 May 2020 5
17 th AAS Meeting in Seattle, Washington, 28 – 30 June 1971 Scientific and technical bases for solar system escape missions were discussed THE FIRST STEP BEYOND THE SOLAR SYSTEM A. J. Dessler R. A. Park The forthcoming flights of Pioneers F and G will see the launch from earth of the first spacecraft to leave the solar system. In this paper, we describe the solar wind and how it forms a region of interplanetary space called the heliosphere. There is little known about how (or even where) the solar wind interacts with the local interstellar medium. Our understanding of the plasma/magnetic-field interaction between the solar wind and interstellar medium will be placed on a definitive basis by information obtained by the spacecraft that obtain data from penetration of the interaction region. Interstellar Probe Webinar Episode 002 28 May 2020 6
Three “Special Probes”… One Beginning … and One To Go ✓ Parker Solar Parker Solar Probe: Probe 12 August 2018 3:31 a.m. EDT Interstellar March 1960: Probe The “Simpson Committee” Ulysses ✓ Ulysses: 6 October 1990 11:47:16 UTC (STS-41 launch) Interstellar Probe Webinar Episode 002 28 May 2020 7
The Questions are not new… THEN JPL study of 1976 – 1977: Primary Objectives (1) Characterize the heliopause (2) Determine characteristics of the interstellar medium (3) Improve the stellar and galactic distance scale (4) Determine characteristics of cosmic rays (5) Determine characteristics of the solar system as a whole Secondary Objectives Pluto (1) Determine characteristics of Pluto and its satellites and rings, if any. orbiter (2) Determine characteristics of distant galactic and extragalactic objects 32,000 kg launch mass (3) Evaluate problems of scientific observations of another solar 500 kWe, NEP system system from a spacecraft 20,200 kg of Hg propellant Interstellar Probe Webinar Episode 002 28 May 2020 8
NOW: The Heliosphere and the Local Interstellar Medium Our Habitable Astrosphere Sol G2V Main Sequence Star 24 km/s Habitable Mira BZ Camelopardalis LL Orionis IRC+10216 Zeta Ophiuchi Interstellar Probe Webinar Episode 002 28 May 2020 9
Voyager – The Accidental Interstellar Explorers Uncovering a New Regime of Space Physics Global Topology Cosmic Ray Shielding Unexpected Field Direction Force Balance Not Understood Required Hydrogen Wall Measured (Voyager) Interstellar Probe Webinar Episode 002 28 May 2020 10
Opportunities Across Disciplines Modest Cross-Divisional Contributions with High Return Extra-Galactic Background Light Dwarf Planets and KBOs Early galaxy and star formation Solar system formation Today Arrokoth Big Bang Pluto 13.7 Gya First Stars & Galaxies Circum-Solar Dust Disk ~13Gya Imprint of solar system evolution Sol 4.6 Ga HL-Tau 1 Ma! Poppe+2019 Interstellar Probe Webinar Episode 002 28 May 2020 11
A “Menu” Approach • Engage the science and technical communities • Assemble a “Menu” of what has been done and what can be done • “Ordering” from the menu will be a charge to a future Science Definition Team – at NASA’s discretion • But one always would like the assurance about what orders can be placed – and delivered – and what they would cost Interstellar Probe Webinar Episode 002 28 May 2020 12
Notional Science Traceability Matrix Identifying Requirements for Mission Designs Goal Questions Objectives Measurements Mission Requirements Global Structure Particles, fields, waves, ENA Spinning, external view, ≥ 200 AU Our Habitable Astropshere in Interstellar Space Ribbon/Belt ENA, particles, fields Spinning, image, in-situ ribbon, ≥ 200 AU Force Balance Particles, fields, ENA Spinning, 90-300 AU What is the Global Astrophysical Shock Acceleration Particles, fields Spinning/multiple heads, flanks, ≥ 90 AU Dynamical Nature of the Nature and dynamics of Heliopause Particles, fields, waves Spinning, wire/rigid, ≥ 100 AU Heliosphere as it plows through the ISM? GCR Shielding Particles, fields Spinning/multiple heads, ≥ 100 AU Solar perturbations in LISM Particles, fields Spinning/multiple heads, ≥ 300 AU Bowshock Particles, fields, nanodust Spinning, ≥ 150 AU Hydrogen Wall UV, particles, fields, neutrals Near ram, spinning, ≥ 300 AU Cloud properties Particles, fields, neutrals Near ram, ≥ 200 AU What are the properties Gas and dust flows Particles, neutrals, dust Near ram, ≥ 200 AU of the Interstellar Cloud surrounding the Boundary region UV, particles, neutrals Near ram, ≥ 400 AU Heliosphere and what Governing processes of ionization UV, particles, neutrals Near ram, ≥ 200 AU does it teach us about Galactic Evolution and Nucleosynthesis Elements, isotopes, dust Near ram, ≥ 400 AU our place in the galaxy? Building blocks of planetary systems Dust Near ram, ≥ 200 AU Version 4.0 In Progress – Continuing community input encouraged! Interstellar Probe Webinar Episode 002 28 May 2020 13
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