Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1715902 | Acta Astronautica | 2011 | 12 Pages |
Abstract
The scientific community has advocated a scientific probe to the interstellar medium for over 30 years. While the Voyager spacecraft have passed through the termination shock of the solar wind, they have limited lifetimes as their radioisotope power supplies decay. It remains unclear whether they can reach the heliopause, the boundary between shocked solar wind and interstellar plasmas, and, in any case, they will not reach the undisturbed interstellar medium. As with most exploratory space missions, their ongoing observations continue to raise even more questions about the nature of the interaction of our heliosphere and the interstellar medium. Scientific questions including:
Keywords
NTRNuclear thermal rocketIIEDeep space networkLH2NEPAVIMlbfDSNHEFHGAEDSTRLRPSRFABPSNRCACSACEISMNASESADRMEuropean Space AgencyNational Academy of SciencesUlpIbexRISESoHoInterstellarnational aeronautics and space administrationTechnology Readiness LevelAttitude control systemNational Research CouncilRadio frequencyUltra-low powerInterstellar mediumNASANEPRepHeliosphereliquid hydrogenCdS
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Authors
Ralph L. Jr., Robert F. Wimmer-Schweingruber, the International Interstellar Probe Team the International Interstellar Probe Team,