Abstract
Experience in exploring our own solar system has shown that direct investigation of planetary bodies using space probes invariably yields scientific knowledge not otherwise obtainable. In the case of exoplanets, such direct investigation may be required to confirm inferences made by astronomical observations, especially with regard to planetary interiors, surface processes, geological evolution, and possible biology. This will necessitate transporting sophisticated scientific instruments across interstellar space, and some proposed methods for achieving this with flight times measured in decades are reviewed. It is concluded that, with the possible exception of very lightweight (and thus scientifically limited) probes accelerated to velocities of ∼0.1c with powerful Earth-based lasers, achieving such a capability may have to wait until the development of a space-based civilization capable of leveraging the material and energy resources of the solar system.
References
Ballmer MD, Noack L (2021) The diversity of exoplanets: from interior dynamics to surface expressions. Elements 17:245–250
Bond A (1974) An analysis of the potential performance of the ram augmented interstellar rocket. JBIS 27:674–685
Bond A (1978) Project Daedalus: target system encounter protection. JBIS 31:S123–S125
Bond A, Martin AR (1986) Project Daedalus reviewed. JBIS 39:385–390
Bond A, Martin AR, Buckland RA et al (1978) Project Daedalus: final report of the BIS starship study. JBIS 31:S1–S192
Bussard RW (1960) Galactic matter and interstellar flight. Astronaut Acta 6:179–194
Cockell CS (2014) Habitable worlds with no signs of life. Phil Trans R Soc A A372:20130082
Cockell CS, Léger A, Fridlund M et al (2009) Darwin: a mission to detect and search for life on extrasolar planets. Astrobiology 9:1–22
Crane L, Westmoreland S (2009) Are black hole starships possible? ArXiv e-print 0908:1803
Crawford IA (1990) Interstellar travel: a review for astronomers. QJRAS 31:377–400
Crawford IA (2009) The astronomical, astrobiological and planetary science case for interstellar spaceflight. JBIS 62:415–421
Crawford IA (2011) Project Icarus: a review of local interstellar medium properties of relevance for space missions to the nearest stars. Acta Astronaut 68:691–699
Crawford IA (2016a) Project Icarus: preliminary thoughts on the selection of probes and instruments for an Icarus-style interstellar mission. JBIS 69:4–10
Crawford IA (2016b) The long term scientific benefits of a space economy. Space Policy 37:58–61
Defrère D, Léger A, Absil O et al (2018) Space-based infrared interferometry to study exoplanetary atmospheres. Exp Astron 46:543–560
Dewar JA (2007) To the end of the solar system: the story of the nuclear rocket. Apogee Books, Burlington
Dressing CD, Charbonneau D, Dumusque X et al (2015) The mass of Kepler-93b and the composition of terrestrial planets. ApJ 800:135
Dyson FJ (1968) Interstellar transport. Phys Today 21(10):41–45
Enerdata (2016) Global energy statistical yearbook. https://yearbook.enerdata.net/world-electricity-production-map-graph-and-data.html
Forward RL (1962) Pluto: last stop before the stars. Sci Dig 52(2):70–75
Forward RL (1982) Antimatter propulsion JBIS 35:391–395
Forward RL (1984) Round-trip interstellar travel using laser-pushed lightsails. J Spacecr Rocket 21:187–195
Freeland RM (2013) Project Icarus: fission-fusion hybrid fuel for interstellar propulsion. JBIS 66:290–296
Freeland RM, Lamontagne M (2015) Firefly Icarus: an unmanned interstellar probe using z-pinch fusion propulsion. JBIS 68:68–80
French JR (2013) Project Icarus: a review of the Daedalus main propulsion system. JBIS 66:248–251
Frisbee RH (2009) Limits of interstellar flight technology. In: Millis MG, Davis EW (eds) Frontiers of propulsion science. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, pp 31–126
Froning HD (1986) Use of vacuum energies for interstellar space flight. JBIS 39:410–415
Gaidos G, Lewis RA, Meyer K et al (1999) AIMStar: antimatter initiated microfusion for precursor interstellar missions. AIP Conf Proc 458:954–959
Hartmann WK (1985) The resource base in our solar system. In: Finney BR, Jones EM (eds) Interstellar migration and the human experience. University of California Press, Berkeley, pp 26–41
Hegde S, Paulino-Lima IG, Kent R (2015) Surface biosignatures of exo-earths: remote detection of extraterrestrial life. PNAS 112:3886–3891
Heller R, Hippke M (2017) Deceleration of high-velocity interstellar photon sails into bound orbits at alpha Centauri. ApJ Lett 835:L32
Heller R, Hippke M, Kervella P (2017) Optimized trajectories to the nearest stars using lightweight high-velocity photon sails. Astron J 154:115
Heppenheimer TA (1978) On the infeasibility of interstellar ramjets. JBIS 31:222–224
Hippke M (2019) Interstellar communication. I. Maximized data rate for lightweight space-probes. Internat J Astrobiology 18:267–279
Impey C (2022) Life beyond earth: how will it first be detected? Acta Astronaut 197:387–398
Jackson AA, Whitmire DP (1978) A laser-powered interstellar rocket. JBIS 32:335–337
Kaltenegger L, Henning WG, Sasselov DD (2010a) Detecting volcanism on extrasolar planets. AJ 140:1370–1380
Kaltenegger L, Selsis F, Fridlund M et al (2010b) Deciphering spectral fingerprints of habitable exoplanets. Astrobiology 10:89–102
Knoll AH (2004) Life on a young planet. Princeton University Press, Princeton
Labeyrie A (2021) Lunar optical interferometry and hypertelescope for direct imaging at high resolution. Phil Trans R Soc A A379:20190570
Lafleur T (2022) Evaluation of solid-core thermal antimatter propulsion concepts. Acta Astronaut 191:417–430
Landgraf M, Baggaley WJ, Grün E et al (2000) Aspects of the mass distribution of interstellar dust grains in the solar system from in situ measurements. J Geophys Res 105:10343–10352
Lawton AT, Wright PP (1978) Project Daedalus: the vehicle communications system. JBIS 31:S163–S171
Lesh JR, Ruggier CJ, Cesarone RJ (1996) Space communications technologies for interstellar missions. JBIS 49:7–14
Lewis JS, Matthews MS, Guerrieri ML (eds) (1993) Resources of near earth space. Tucson University Press, Tucson
Long KF (2012) Deep space propulsion: a roadmap to interstellar flight. Springer, New York
Long KF (2016) Project Icarus: development of fusion-based space propulsion for interstellar missions. JBIS 69:289–294
Long KF (2022) Interstellar propulsion using laser-driven inertial confinement fusion physics. Universe 8:421
Lubin P (2016) A roadmap to interstellar flight. JBIS 69:40–72
Lubin P, Hettle W (2020) The path to interstellar flight. Acta Futura 12:9–44. https://zenodo.org/record/3874099#.ZAIgcy-l1pQ
Madhusudhan N, Lee KKM, Mousis O (2012) A possible carbon-rich interior in super-earth 55 Cancri e. ApJ 759:L40
Mallove EF, Matloff GL (1989) The starflight handbook: a pioneer’s guide to interstellar travel. Wiley, New York
Martin AR (1973) Magnetic intake limitations on interstellar ramjets. Astronaut Acta 18:1–10
Martin AR (1978) Project Daedalus: bombardment by interstellar material and its effects on the vehicle. JBIS 31:S116–S121
Marx G (1965) Mechanical efficiency of interstellar vehicles. Astronaut Acta 9:131–139
Marx G (1966) Interstellar vehicle propelled by terrestrial laser beam. Nature 211:22–23
Matloff GL (1979) The interstellar ramjet acceleration runway. JBIS 32:219–220
Matloff GL (2010) Deep-space probes: to the outer solar system and beyond. Springer-Praxis, New York
Matloff GL (2013) The speed limit for graphene interstellar photon sails. JBIS 66:377–380
Mauldin JH (1992) Prospects for interstellar travel. Science and technology series, vol 80. American Astronautical Society, San Diego
Messerschmitt DG, Lubin P, Morrison I (2020) Challenges in scientific data communication from low-mass interstellar probes. Astrophys J Suppl 249:36
Metzger PT, Muscatello A, Mueller RP, Mantovani J (2013) Affordable, rapid bootstrapping of space industry and solar system civilisation. J Aerosp Eng 26:18–29
Millis MG, Davis EW (eds) (2009) Frontiers of propulsion science. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston
Milne P, Lamontagne M, Freeland RM (2016) Project Icarus: communications data link designs between Icarus and earth and between Icarus spacecraft. JBIS 69:278–288
Morgan DL (1982) Concepts for the design of an antimatter annihilation rocket. JBIS 35:405–412
Perakis N, Hein AM (2016) Combining magnetic and electric sails for interstellar deceleration. Acta Astronaut 128:13–20
Perkins LJ, Orth CD, Tabak M (2004) On the utility of antiprotons as drivers for inertial confinement fusion. Nucl Fusion 44:1097–1117
Rappaport S, Sanchis-Ojeda R, Rogers LA et al (2013) The Roche limit for close-orbiting planets: minimum density, composition constraints, and application to the 4.2 hr planet KOI 1843.03. ApJ 773:L15
Rustamkulov Z, Sing DK, Mukhergee S et al (2023) Early release science of the exoplanet WASP-39b with JWST NIRSpec PRISM. Nature 614:659–663
Schneider J, Léger A, Fridlund M et al (2010) The far future of exoplanet direct characterisation. Astrobiology 10:121–126
Schneider J, Silk J, Vakili F (2021) OWL-moon in 2050 and beyond. Phil Trans R Soc A A379:20200187
Seager S (2014) The future of spectroscopic life detection on exoplanets. PNAS 111:12634–12640
Semyonov OG (2014) Relativistic rocket: dream and reality. Acta Astronaut 99:52–70
Semyonov OG (2017) Diamagnetic antimatter storage. Acta Astronaut 136:190–203
Shepherd LR (1952) Interstellar flight. JBIS 11:149–167
Singer CE (1980) Interstellar propulsion using a pellet stream for momentum transfer. JBIS 33:107–116
Stamenkovic V, Seager S (2016) Emerging possibilities and insuperable limitations of exogeophysics: the example of plate tectonics. ApJ 825:78
Strong J (1965) Flight to the stars: an inquiry into the feasibility of interstellar flight. Temple Press, London
Swinney RW, Long KF, Galea P (2011) Project Icarus: son of Daedalus – flying closer to another star: a technical update and programme review. JBIS 64:17–23
Swinney RW, Freeland RM, Lamontagne M (2020) Project Icarus: designing a fusion powered interstellar probe. Acta Futura 12:47–59. https://zenodo.org/record/3747274#.ZAIdgC-l1pQ
Tough A (1998) Small smart interstellar probes. JBIS 51:167–174
Webb GM (1978) Project Daedalus: some principles for the design of a payload for an interstellar flyby mission. JBIS 31:S149–S162
White H, March P (2012) Advanced propulsion physics: harnessing the quantum vacuum. In: Nuclear and emerging technologies for space (2012), abstract 3082. https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/nets2012/pdf/3082.pdf
Whitmire DP (1975) Relativistic spaceflight and the catalytic nuclear ramjet. Acta Astronaut 2:497–509
Whitmire DP, Jackson AA (1977) Laser powered interstellar ramjet. JBIS 30:223–226
Wolczek O (1982) New conceptions of unmanned planetary exploration: extra-solar planetary systems. Acta Astronaut 9:529–531
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Crawford, I.A. (2023). Direct Exoplanet Investigation Using Interstellar Space Probes. In: Deeg, H.J., Belmonte, J.A. (eds) Handbook of Exoplanets . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30648-3_167-2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30648-3_167-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-30648-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-30648-3
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics
Publish with us
Chapter history
-
Latest
Direct Exoplanet Investigation Using Interstellar Space Probes- Published:
- 14 September 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30648-3_167-2
-
Original
Direct Exoplanet Investigation Using Interstellar Space Probes- Published:
- 18 August 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30648-3_167-1