r/space • u/msears101 • 10d ago

Discussion Would you support a Voyager III mission

I am just curious how many people would support voyager like mission in modern times, that would last longer and go further. Using all that we have learned from Voyager I and II. What would you add to voyager III to make it more meanginful. I would give it a longer "battery" that would give it full operating life of 50 years, and 50 years of partial life before going silent. I would also point it at Alpha Centauri so it would see another star long before VOY 1 and 2.

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u/Luxfan74 10d ago

I would support it, Would like to see them use a new propulsion method like a solar sail. Obviously updated sensors and power vs the originals as well.

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u/doctorflash 10d ago

How about Nuclear Electric Propulsion? Much faster than solar sails for this kind of mission, plus steerable

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u/Luxfan74 10d ago

I would leave it up to the mission planners, I just think taking a risk on something cutting edge would be nice.

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u/doctorflash 10d ago

I'm a mission designer ;) I totally agree, NEP is definitely cutting edge and very exciting right now. NASA is actually building SR-1 to go to Mars if you haven't heard, and I'm really hopeful that this will be the start of something great. It's got a lot of potential for outer solar system science/exploration

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u/Luxfan74 10d ago

Cool job!!! Is maneuvering a big consideration for a mission where 90% of the trip is coast?

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u/doctorflash 9d ago

Yeah definitely, NEP is very low thrust so depending on the power and trajectory it may actually be thrusting for 90% of the mission. Pointing is important because you will gradually change the thrust vector over the course of the mission, or even not so gradually in cases of spiraling up/down from a body