Project Lyra is a feasibility study of a mission to interstellar objects such as ʻOumuamua and 2I/Borisov, initiated on 30 October 2017 by the Initiative for Interstellar Studies (i4is).[1][2][3][4] In January 2022, researchers proposed that a spacecraft launched from Earth could catch up to 'Oumuamua in 26 years for further close-up studies.[5][6]

Overview

Options suggested by i4is initially (which have now been superseded) for sending a spacecraft to ʻOumuamua within a time-frame of 5 to 10 years were based on a launch in 2021, and required travelling first to Jupiter to conduct a flyby, followed by a close solar flyby at 3 to 10 solar radii, in order to take advantage of the Oberth effect. Subsequent research revealled further launch possibilities, notably in 2030 or 2033, using the same scenario (except the 2030 launch has an additional Vinfinity Leveraging Maneuver), but with a total flight duration of 22 years. Thus, there are still future opportunities for a mission to 'Oumuamua.

Furthermore alternative trajectory options were also explored by i4is, all of which utilized the much less technically challenging Jupiter Oberth rather than the previously assumed Solar Oberth. Launch years for these range between 2026 and 2033, depending on the chosen combination of gravity assists leading up to the Jupiter encounter.

Alternatively i4is proposed more advanced options such as a solar sail, laser sail, or nuclear propulsion.[7][8]

Solar Oberth

ʻOumuamua was at first thought to be traveling too fast for any existing spacecraft to reach.[9][10]

The Initiative for Interstellar Studies (i4is) launched Project Lyra to assess the feasibility of a mission to ʻOumuamua.[4] Several options for sending a spacecraft to ʻOumuamua within a time-frame of 5 to 25 years were suggested.[11][12]

The challenge highlighted by i4is is to get to the asteroid in a reasonable amount of time (and so at a reasonable distance from Earth), and yet be able to gain useful scientific information. To do this, decelerating the spacecraft at ʻOumuamua would be "highly desirable, due to the minimal science return from a hyper-velocity encounter".[7] If the investigative craft goes too fast, it would not be able to get into orbit or land on the asteroid, and would fly past it. The authors conclude that, although challenging, an encounter mission would be feasible using near-term technology.[7][4] Seligman and Laughlin[13] adopt a complementary approach to the Lyra study, but also conclude that such missions, though challenging to mount, are both feasible and scientifically attractive.

One option suggested by i4is is using first a Jupiter flyby, followed by a close solar flyby at 3 solar radii (2.1×10^6 km; 1.3×10^6 mi), in order to take advantage of the Oberth effect.[7] Subsequent proposals have relaxed the distance to up to 10 solar radii (7.0×10^6 km; 4.3×10^6 mi).[14]

Initial research conducted by i4is indicated that a spacecraft with a mass of tens of kilograms, using a heat shield like that in the Parker Solar Probe, atop a Falcon Heavy-class launcher, with a trajectory including a powered Jupiter flyby and a Solar Oberth maneuver, was capable of reaching ʻOumuamua, had it been launched in 2021.[7]

However, subsequent investigations revealed further opportunities for missions to 'Oumuamua will be possible, using a Solar Oberth at 6 solar radii (4.2×10^6 km; 2.6×10^6 mi),[12] the soonest being in 2030/2033 – the choice of year depending on whether the trajectory exploits a 3 year leveraging maneuver or not. These involve flight durations in excess of 20 years which, although admittedly protracted, should be placed in the context of the Voyager probes, which launched over 45 years ago and are still to some extent operational today.

Jupiter Oberth

Further investigations conducted by the i4is Project Lyra team revealed that viable missions to 'Oumuamua exist in the future, with launch for example in 2028, and do not necessarily require a Solar Oberth, exploiting instead a powered flyby of Jupiter, alternatively known as a Jupiter Oberth.[15][16]

Other options

More advanced options such as solar, laser electric propulsion, laser sail propulsion based on Breakthrough Starshot technology, and nuclear propulsion have also been considered.[7][8]

References

  1. ↑ Ackerman, Evan (29 November 2017). "How We Could Explore That Interstellar Asteroid". IEEE Spectrum.
  2. ↑ "SpaceX's Planned Giant Rocket Could Chase Down Interstellar Asteroid". Scientific American. 29 November 2017.
  3. ↑ Williams, Matt (24 November 2017). "Project Lyra, A Mission to Chase Down That Interstellar Asteroid". Universe Today.
  4. 1 2 3 "Project Lyra – A Mission to ʻOumuamua". I4IS. Initiative for Interstellar Studies.
  5. ↑ Williams, Matt (20 January 2022). "If Launched by 2028, a Spacecraft Could Catch up With Oumuamua in 26 Years". Universe Today. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  6. ↑ Hibberd, Adam; et al. (11 January 2022). "Project Lyra: A mission to 1I/'Oumuamua without Solar Oberth Manoeuvre". Acta Astronautica. 199: 161–165. arXiv:2201.04240. Bibcode:2022AcAau.199..161H. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.07.032. S2CID 245877397.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hein, A.M.; Perakis, N.; Long, K.F.; Crowl, A.; Eubanks, M.; Kennedy, R.G. III; Osborne, R. (2017). "Project Lyra: Sending a Spacecraft to 1I/ʻOumuamua (former A/2017 U1), the Interstellar Asteroid". arXiv:1711.03155 [physics.space-ph].
  8. 1 2 Hibberd, Adam; Hein, Andreas M (2021). "Project Lyra: Catching 1I/'Oumuamua-Using Nuclear Thermal Rockets". Acta Astronautica. 179: 594–603. arXiv:2008.05435. Bibcode:2021AcAau.179..594H. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.11.038. S2CID 221104007.
  9. ↑ Clarke, Stephen (22 November 2017). "An interstellar interloper is dashing through our solar system". Astronomy Now. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  10. ↑ Berger, Eric (22 November 2017). "Chasing ʻOumuamua – unfortunately human technology isn't up to the task". Ars Technica. Retrieved 23 November 2017. Chemical propulsion just doesn't close the case in this scenario.
  11. ↑ Hein, Andreas M.; Perakis, Nikolaos; Eubanks, T. Marshall; Hibberd, Adam; Crowl, Adam; Hayward, Kieran; Kennedy III, Robert G.; Osborne, Richard (7 January 2019). "Project Lyra: Sending a spacecraft to 1I/'Oumuamua (former A/2017 U1), the interstellar asteroid". Acta Astronautica. 161: 552–561. arXiv:1711.03155. Bibcode:2019AcAau.161..552H. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.12.042. S2CID 119474144.
  12. 1 2 Hibberd, Adam; Hein, Andreas M.; Eubanks, T. Marshall (2020). "Project Lyra: Catching 1I/'Oumuamua – Mission Opportunities After 2024". Acta Astronautica. 170: 136–144. arXiv:1902.04935. Bibcode:2020AcAau.170..136H. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.01.018. S2CID 119078436.
  13. ↑ Seligman, Darryl; Laughlin, Gregory (12 April 2018). "The Feasibility and Benefits of in situ Exploration of ʻOumuamua-like Objects". The Astronomical Journal. 155 (5): 217. arXiv:1803.07022. Bibcode:2018AJ....155..217S. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/aabd37. S2CID 73656586.
  14. ↑ Hibberd, Adam; Hein, Andreas M; Eubanks, T Marshall (2020). "Project Lyra: Catching 1I/'Oumuamua--Mission Opportunities After 2024". Acta Astronautica. 170: 136–144. arXiv:1902.04935. Bibcode:2020AcAau.170..136H. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.01.018. S2CID 119078436.
  15. ↑ Hibberd, Adam; Hein, Andreas M; Eubanks, T Marshall; Kennedy III, Robert G. (2022). "Project Lyra: A Mission to 1I/'Oumuamua without Solar Oberth Manoeuvre". Acta Astronautica. 199: 161–165. arXiv:2201.04240v1. Bibcode:2022AcAau.199..161H. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.07.032. S2CID 245877397.
  16. ↑ Davies, John I (2022). "Project Lyra: A Mission to 1I/'Oumuamua without Solar Oberth Manoeuvre" (PDF). Principium. Initiative for Interstellar Studies. 199 (36): 46. arXiv:2201.04240. Bibcode:2022AcAau.199..161H. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.07.032. S2CID 245877397. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
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