| Title: | Space missions to interstellar objects: build-and-walt missions |
| Authors: | Laia López Llobet, Author |
| Material Type: | ISU Individual Project |
| Publisher: | Illkirch-Graffenstaden (France) : International Space University, 2021 |
| Size: | 1 electronic resource (x, 47 p.) / col. ill. |
| Bibliography note: | Includes bibliographical references |
| Languages: | English |
| Description: | This report assesses the main characteristics of ISOs, and develops mission concepts for build-and-wait missions. The best ISO mission approach is determined, and a trade-off is conducted between build-and-wait missions on Earth and in space, based on cost, risk, orbital manoeuvres, response time and spacecraft lifetime. It is determined that build-and-wait missions on Earth are the best approach. Furthermore, a computational analysis was performed, using the Runge-Kutta RKF4(5) numerical method, to determine the likelihood of ISOs trajectories intercepting the ecliptic. The results show a peak at a distance of ≃1 AU from the Sun. Therefore, the vicinity of the Earth’s orbit is the best position to place a spacecraft for ISO interception. In addition, these results add validity to the theory of panspermia via ISO impact. The author has estimated an annual probability of ISO-Earth impact of 10-7. |
| ISU program : | Master of Space Studies |
| Permalink: | https://isulibrary.isunet.edu/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=11378 |
Read online (1)
 López Llobet, Laia_IP (2.38MB) Adobe Acrobat PDF |
