Near-Term Self-replicating Probes -- A Concept Design

TL;DR

This paper proposes a feasible near-term design for partially self-replicating space probes that can replicate most of their mass, aiming to enhance space exploration efficiency with current and upcoming technologies.

Contribution

It introduces a concept for small, partially self-replicating probes using existing technologies, focusing on near-term implementation and identifying key technological gaps.

Findings

Proposed a probe capable of 70% self-replication of its mass.

Feasibility of small-scale, partial self-replication within near-term technological limits.

Potential to improve exploration efficiency with a fleet of a dozen or more probes.

Abstract

Self-replicating probes are spacecraft with the capacity to create copies of themselves. Self-replication would potentially allow for an exponential increase in the number of probes and thereby drastically improve the efficiency of space exploration. Despite this potential, an integrated assessment of self-replicating space probes has not been presented since the 1980s, and it is still unclear how far they are feasible. In this paper, we propose a concept for a partially self-replicating probe for space exploration based on current and near-term technologies, with a focus on small spacecraft. The purpose is to chart a path towards self-replication with near-term benefits, rather than attempting full self-replication. For this reason, components such as microchips and other microelectronic components are brought with the initial probe and are not replicated. We estimate that such a probe would be capable of replicating 70% of its mass. To further increase this percentage, we identify technology gaps that are promising to address. We conclude that small-scale, partially self-replicating probes are feasible near-term. Their benefits would play out in exploration missions requiring roughly more than a dozen of probes.