SETIsail: A Space Mission To 550 AU To Exploit The Gravitational Lens Of The Sun For SETI And Astrophysics
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C. Maccone, G. L. Matloff. (1994), JBIS, 47, pp.3-4
Refcode: 1994.47.3
Abstract:
A new formal ism for interstellar solar sailing and the current technology solar sails use discussed previously to project small payloads from the solar system at hyperbolic excess velocities greatly in excess of those available from planetary gravity assists (GA) alone, have been applied to suggest a robotic mission to 550 AU, the focus of the Sun’s gravitational lens (GL). A nice and unexpected feature of the GL is that, beyond the minimal focal distance (fd) of 550 AU, tl1e signal magnification is maintained. In other words, it is not necessary for a space-borne radio telescope to stop at 550 AU. As the spacecraft’s distance from the Sun increases beyond 550 AU, the solar corona l noise decreases [3].
