HR: 0800h
AN: P51C-0943    [Abstracts]
TI: Innovative Interstellar Explorer (I2E)
AU: * McNutt, R L
EM: ralph.mcnutt@jhuapl.edu
AF: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723-6099 United States
AU: Gold, R E
EM: robert.gold@jhuapl.edu
AF: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723-6099 United States
AU: Krimigis, T
EM: tom.krimigis@jhuapl.edu
AF: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723-6099 United States
AU: Roelof, E C
EM: edmond.roelof@jhuapl.edu
AF: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723-6099 United States
AU: Gruntman, M
EM: mikeg@spock.usc.edu
AF: University of Southern California, Astronautics and Space Technology Division, Rapp Research Building 230, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1192 United States
AU: Gloeckler, G
EM: gg10@umail.umd.edu
AF: University of Michigan, 2455 Hayward, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2143 United States
AU: Koehn, P L
EM: koehn@engine.umich.edu
AF: University of Michigan, 2455 Hayward, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2143 United States
AU: Kurth, W S
EM: william-kurth@uiowa.edu
AF: The Univeersity of Iowa, 203 Van Allen Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242-1479 United States
AU: Oleson, S R
EM: steven.r.oleson@nasa.gov
AF: NASA Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Rd., Cleveland, OH 44135 United States
AU: Fiehler, D I
EM: douglas.i.fiehler@grc.nasa.gov
AF: QSS Group, Inc., NASA Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Rd, Cleveland, OH 44135 United States
AU: Horanyi, M
EM: Mihaly.Horanyi@colorado.edu
AF: Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics and Department of Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0392 United States
AU: Mewaldt, R A
EM: rmewaldt@srl.caltech.edu
AF: California Institute of Technology, 220-47 Downs Laboratory, Pasadena, CA 91126 United States
AU: Leary, J C
EM: james.leary@jhuapl.edu
AF: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723-6099 United States
AU: Anderson, B J
EM: brian.anderson@jhuapl.edu
AF: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723-6099 United States
AB: An interstellar "precursor" mission has been under discussion in the scientific community for almost 30 years. Fundamental scientific questions about the interaction of the Sun with the interstellar medium and the nature of the very local interstellar medium (VLISM) itself can only be answered with the in situ measurements from a probe penetrating into interstellar space. The problem is the development of a probe that can provide the required measurements and can reach a heliocentric distance of at least 200 astronomical units (AU) in a "reasonable" time. High-performance radioisotope power systems (RPSs) are enabling for our approach: The Innovative Interstellar Explorer (IIE) and its use of Radioisotope Electric Propulsion (REP) is being studied under a NASA "Vision Mission" grant. Speed is provided by a combination of a high-energy launch, a Jupiter gravity assist, and long-term, low-thrust, continuous acceleration provided by a kilowatt-class ion thruster running off electricity provided by an RPS. Such an approach relies upon known technology for most subsystems and upon current launch vehicles for speed. A payload of nine instruments with an aggregate mass of about 35 kg and requiring 30 W has been carefully chosen to address the compelling science questions. We describe the mission and system that can reach 200 AU in a 30-year flight time.
DE: 2124 Heliopause and solar wind termination
DE: 2126 Heliosphere/interstellar medium interactions
DE: 2129 Interplanetary dust
DE: 2144 Interstellar gas
DE: 2194 Instruments and techniques
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005