[Paper Review] Project Lyra: Catching 1I/'Oumuamua -- Using Laser Sailcraft in 2030

Adam Hibberd, Andreas M. Hein|arXiv (Cornell University)|Jun 6, 2020

Maritime and Coastal Archaeology41 references4 citations

TL;DR

This paper proposes a laser-sail mission to intercept the interstellar object 1I/'Oumuamua using a 2030 launch, leveraging a scaled-down Breakthrough Starshot laser array to accelerate a sailcraft to 300 km/s (~0.001c). Trajectory simulations show a minimum 440-day flight time, with intercept occurring beyond 82 AU, offering a faster, scalable alternative to chemical propulsion missions.

ABSTRACT

Discovered in October 2017, the interstellar object designated 1I/'Oumuamua was the first such object to be observed travelling through our solar system. 1I/'Oumuamua has other characteristics never seen before in a celestial body and in-situ observations and measurements would be of extraordinary scientific value. Previous studies have demonstrated the viability of spacecraft trajectories to 'Oumuamua using chemical propulsion with a Solar Oberth burn at a perihelion as low as a few solar radii. In addition to chemical propulsion, there is also the possibility of missions involving light sails accelerated by the radiation pressure of a laser beam from a laser located on Earth. Based on a scaled-down Breakthrough Starshot beaming infrastructure, interplanetary missions and missions to the outer solar system have been proposed using lower sailcraft speeds of 0.001c relaxing the laser power requirements (3-30 GW for 1-100 kg spacecraft) and various other mission constraints. This paper uses the OITS trajectory simulation tool, which assumes an impulsive $Δ$V increment, to analyze the trajectories which might be followed by a sailcraft to 'Oumuamua, with a launch in the year 2030 and assuming it has already been accelerated to a maximum speed of 300km/s (approx. 0.001c) by the laser. A minimum flight duration of 440 days for a launch in July 2030 is found. The intercept would take place beyond 82 AU. We conclude that the possibility of launching a large number of spacecraft and reaching 1I much faster than chemical propulsion would circumvent several disadvantages of previously proposed mission architectures.

Motivation & Objective

• To assess the feasibility of a laser-sail mission to intercept 1I/'Oumuamua, the first observed interstellar object.
• To overcome limitations of chemical propulsion missions, such as long flight times and high delta-v requirements.
• To evaluate the performance of a scaled-down Breakthrough Starshot laser infrastructure for deep-space interstellar object rendezvous.
• To determine optimal launch windows and mission durations for a 2030 launch using impulsive delta-v trajectory models.
• To demonstrate that laser-sail technology enables faster, more scalable missions compared to traditional chemical propulsion.

Proposed method

• Utilizes the OITS trajectory simulation tool to model sailcraft trajectories with an impulsive delta-v maneuver.
• Assumes laser propulsion accelerates the sailcraft to 300 km/s (0.001c) prior to launch, consistent with a scaled-down Breakthrough Starshot architecture.
• Models mission profiles with a 2030 launch window, focusing on intercept trajectories to 1I/'Oumuamua.
• Applies orbital mechanics principles to compute minimum flight durations and intercept locations beyond 82 AU.
• Considers mission constraints such as sailcraft mass (1–100 kg), laser power (3–30 GW), and solar system dynamics.
• Evaluates mission performance relative to chemical propulsion alternatives using delta-v and time-of-flight metrics.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 What is the minimum flight duration required to intercept 1I/'Oumuamua with a laser-sail spacecraft launched in July 2030?
• RQ2 Can a scaled-down laser propulsion system achieve sufficient velocity to reach 1I/'Oumuamua beyond 82 AU within a feasible timeframe?
• RQ3 How does laser-sail propulsion compare to chemical propulsion in terms of mission duration and delta-v requirements for interstellar object rendezvous?
• RQ4 What are the optimal launch windows and trajectory parameters for a 2030 mission to 1I/'Oumuamua using laser sailcraft?
• RQ5 What are the implications of using multiple sailcraft for increasing mission success probability and reducing mission risk?

Key findings

• A minimum flight duration of 440 days is required for a 2030 launch to intercept 1I/'Oumuamua, assuming a 300 km/s initial velocity.
• The intercept occurs beyond 82 AU, significantly beyond the orbit of Neptune, confirming the mission's deep-space nature.
• Laser-sail propulsion enables a mission with a 440-day flight time, substantially faster than chemical propulsion alternatives.
• The mission architecture is scalable, supporting multiple sailcraft with low laser power (3–30 GW) for 1–100 kg payloads.
• Trajectory simulations confirm the feasibility of achieving a rendezvous with 1I/'Oumuamua using only an initial laser impulse and no in-flight propulsion.
• The approach circumvents key disadvantages of chemical propulsion, such as high propellant mass and long transit times, by enabling rapid acceleration to 0.001c.