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I couldn't find a topic on this, so decided to create one.
There are numerous classes of small body in the solar system, for which mass produced probes would appear to provide an economical means of exploration. Iam thinking:
1) Near Earth asteroids;
2) Main belt asteroids;
3) Trojan asteroids;
4) Centaurs;
5) Kuiper belt objects.
For each class, flyby missions would have sufficiently similar requirements that a repeatable design would appear to fit multiple missions.
For missions to inner solar system objects, we could use a single Starship launch to ship dozens of solar powered, ion-driven probes to orbit. Each would pursue its own trajectory after release. For more distant objects, class 4 & 5 above, propulsion could be provided by a combination of solar sail and gravity assist. Power would be provided by an Sr90 radiothermal stirling generator.
"Plan and prepare for every possibility, and you will never act. It is nobler to have courage as we stumble into half the things we fear than to analyse every possible obstacle and begin nothing. Great things are achieved by embracing great dangers."
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Best wishes for success with this interesting new topic.
There is a need for objects in the Solar System to be marked with beacons, much as maritime dangers were identified with bells or visual indicators.
The mass produced probes idea might blend well with this need, as a source of funding beyond exploration and data gathering.
(th)
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