Heliopause Explorer—a sailcraft mission to the outer boundaries of the solar system

Leipold, M.; Fichtner, H.; Heber, B.; Groepper, P.; Lascar, S.; Burger, F.; Eiden, Michael; Niederstadt, T.; Sickinger, C.; Herbeck, Lars; Dachwald, Bernd; Seboldt, W.

doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2005.07.024

Cited by 36 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…In order to explore the structure and properties of the heliospheric interface it is, however, necessary to get in-situ observations from the heliopause and the region beyond. Therefore, a 'Heliopause Explorer' mission (Leipold et al, 2003), now called Interstellar Heliopause Probe (IHP, see Falkner (2005), Lyngvi et al (2005a) and Lyngvi et al (2005b)), can represent the next step in the exploration of the outer boundaries of the heliosphere.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Science with the Interstellar Heliopause Probe

Fichtner

Heber

Leipold

2006

Astrophys. Space Sci. Trans.

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Abstract. After the exciting in-situ observations of the termination shock and the entry of the Voyager 1 spacecraft in the heliosheath, there is a growing awareness of the significance of the physics of the outer heliosphere. Its understanding helps to clarify the structure of our immediate interstellar neighbourhood, contributes to the clarification of fundamental astrophysical processes like the acceleration of charged particles at a steller wind termination shock, and also sheds light on the question to what extent interstellar-terrestrial relations are important for the environment of and on the Earth. Consequently, there are new seriously discussed suggestions for sending a modern spacecraft into the heliosheath and beyond. One of those candidates is the Interstellar Heliopause Probe (IHP) that has been studied in a Technology Reference Study by ESA/ESTEC. Here, we discuss the science objectives and expected scientific performance of this mission.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Science with the Interstellar Heliopause Probe

Fichtner

Heber

Leipold

2006

Astrophys. Space Sci. Trans.

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“…In particular, a 21.2 year, 0.75 mm/s 2 ideal sail trajectory has been presented, that spirals down to 0.37 AU and then executes a dual photonic assist, however the closest solar approach is just 0.1 AU, placing severe thermal loads on the spacecraft and sail assembly [15]. The mission scenario considered herein shall use the sail from Earth departure until it is jettisoned at 5 AU, as per requirement 5, and shall apply a strict solar approach limit of 0.25 AU due to the thermal effects on the sail as discussed previously.…”

Section: Trajectory Design For the Interstellar Heliopause Probementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent trajectories considered by Leipold, et al and ESA-ESTEC have considered lower performance sails to achieve a slower transit to 200 AU with a conventional 3-axis stabilized square sail, with DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt; the German Centre for Air and Space Flight) derived composite booms [15,[28][29][30]. In particular, a 21.2 year, 0.75 mm/s 2 ideal sail trajectory has been presented, that spirals down to 0.37 AU and then executes a dual photonic assist, however the closest solar approach is just 0.1 AU, placing severe thermal loads on the spacecraft and sail assembly [15].…”

Section: Trajectory Design For the Interstellar Heliopause Probementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Four top-level solar sail mission architectures are detailed in Table 2, it is noted that a close solar approach of less than 0.25 AU is generally considered very challenging [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Conventional polyimide sail substrates (thermal limit ~520 K [1]) with conventional aluminum and chromium coatings will not be able to survive the local environment at less than 0.25 AU for any significant duration.…”

Section: Architecture Trade-offmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, the development of solar sail technology for outer solar system applications has been considered [15][16][17]. Trajectory design for alternative propulsion systems, such as Solar and Nuclear Electric Propulsion (SEP and NEP) has also been considered [18,19].…”

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Technology Requirements of Exploration Beyond Neptune by Solar Sail Propulsion

Macdonald

McInnes

Hughes

2010

Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets

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Galactic and anomalous cosmic rays through the solar cycle: New insights from Ulysses

Heber¹,

Potgieter²

The Heliosphere Through the Solar Activity Cycle

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Cosmic ray research began in 1912 when Victor Hess measured the intensity of the then unknown ionizing radiation with an electroscope in a balloon up to an altitude of about 5,000 m. He discovered that this very penetrating radiation, later called cosmic rays, was coming from outside the atmosphere (for a historic review, see Simpson, 2001).The systematic experimental study of cosmic rays began in the 1930s, using ground-based and balloon-borne ionization chambers. In the 1950s it expanded on a much larger scale with neutron monitors, coordinated world-wide during the International Geophysical Year (IGY) in 1957 (Simpson, 2000). When Parker (1958) described the solar wind, the theoretical research of cosmic rays began, stimulated by the beginning of in situ space observations that have led over four decades to important space missions, including the Ulysses mission to high heliolatitudes. Particle populations in the heliosphereWithin the heliosphere, energetic charged particles of different origin can be identified. In the previous chapters solar energetic particles and particles accelerated by interplanetary shock waves have been discussed. In what follows we will only discuss galactic and anomalous cosmic rays, Jovian electrons, and their propagation and modulation in the heliosphere. Galactic cosmic raysGalactic cosmic rays (GCRs) consist of energetic electrons and nuclei which are a direct sample of material from far beyond the solar system. They are accelerated by shock waves in the galaxy from, for example, supernova remnants, pulsars, or active galactic nuclei. The remarkable feature of cosmic rays is their energy spectra,

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Heliopause Explorer—a sailcraft mission to the outer boundaries of the solar system

Cited by 36 publications

References 20 publications

The Science with the Interstellar Heliopause Probe

The Science with the Interstellar Heliopause Probe

Technology Requirements of Exploration Beyond Neptune by Solar Sail Propulsion

Galactic and anomalous cosmic rays through the solar cycle: New insights from Ulysses

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