Voyager 3: A Concept Mission to Interstellar Medium

TL;DR

Voyager 3 is a proposed space mission aiming to image exoplanets using solar gravitational lensing at 550 AU, involving innovative trajectory designs and scientific instruments to study the interstellar medium.

Contribution

This paper introduces a novel concept mission with specific architectures and design considerations for interstellar exploration and exoplanet imaging.

Findings

Proposed two architectures for reaching 550 AU.

Detailed mission objectives and spacecraft design.

Feasibility of using gravitational assists and electric propulsion.

Abstract

Voyager 3 is a concept mission that sends a space telescope to the interstellar medium in a reasonable amount of time. Voyager 3 would take a direct image of an exoplanet using the solar gravitational lensing at the distance of 550 astronomical unit (AU). The spacecraft would use its suite of scientific instruments to study the environment of the local solar system and interstellar medium and finalize its primary mission by imaging an exoplanet. Two potential architectures are proposed to meet this mission directive, using multiple gravitational assists and sizable electric propulsion burns to achieve the high escape speeds necessary to reach 550 AU. This paper expands on the science mission objectives, trajectory, and the preliminary design of the baseline spacecraft.