On Feb 5, 3:59=A0pm, Robert Martinu <inva...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> IsaacKuo schrieb:
> > You can send more than one probe; one with the drive and
> > another with the sensors and long range comms suite.
> You'd only see a flash of light or something, without knowing if you
> just travelled to the next star or only used a fancy kind of self
> destruction. Having the test vehicle return and report should be part of
> any serious mission description.
Well, if everything goes well, then the FTL probe can return
and report recorded data to the main probe via short range
communications. The FTL probe only needs a crude camera
to record images of the nearest stars to confirm its location
during the journey.
But if something went wrong upon activating the FTL drive,
then you want all of your best sensors on the main probe,
so you can get a good look at what happened.
> > Another option is to use a bigger rocket, of course, if
> > available.
> That collides with the "within a decade"-statement as Cassini already
> used the biggest laucher available.
This depends on the time this decade starts.
> >> To use an ion drive you'd need primarily a adequate power source and
> >> cooling vanes while making any impulsive manoeuvres impractical.
> > Sticking with mature technology, we're looking at solar-electric.
> > Current solar panels provide power levels appropriate for current
> > ion rockets.
> That would work maybe up to the mars orbit, but at the distance of
> jupiter there is in (comparison to earth) only about 3% of the solar
> irradiation per area left.
That's still enough sunlight to power a Jupiter exploration probe
(Juno).
But at any rate, you'll want to use the thrusters at the start of the
mission, while within the inner solar system, to get up to the desired
speed.
Isaac Kuo
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