High-performance solar sails for interstellar object rendezvous

Interstellar objects are a category of comets and asteroids that offer a unique scientific opportunity to answer fundamental scientific questions about the origin of solar system volatiles, the compositions of exo-solar systems, and the transfer rates of material between solar systems. However, they are also difficult to reach due to their high energy and the minimal lead time afforded by current detection infrastructure. This investigation presents the stationary satellite, or statite, concept as a method to enable rendezvous missions with extended stays at these important targets of study. Through the use of a high-performance solar sail, the statite spacecraft is able to maintain a stationary position with respect to the Sun, thus maintaining a state with a high potential energy. Upon detection, it reorients its sail and enters into a controlled fall towards the Sun, by which it obtains a high velocity to match the trajectory of the target. The applicability of this approach is assessed on rendezvous missions to the two known interstellar objects: 'Oumuamua and Borisov. Counter examples based upon electrically propelled spacecraft characterize the potential improvement in response time and mission duration offered by the statite concept. Based on the expected population of detectable objects, conclusions are drawn regarding flight times to the target population. The analysis includes trajectories that transfer the statite from the Earth to strategic locations to await interstellar targets.

Automated summary

A concept of using stationary satellites (statites) with solar sails for rendezvous missions with interstellar objects is proposed in this investigation. This method offers the advantages of high potential energy and potential improvement in response time, and its applicability on known interstellar objects is assessed.