Interstellar Express or Interstellar Heliosphere Probe is the current name for a proposed Chinese National Space Administration program designed to explore the heliosphere and interstellar space. The first probe, IHP-1, will travel toward the nose of the heliosphere, while the second probe, IHP-2, will fly near to the tail, skimming by Neptune and Triton.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/arti … ar-system/
China Plans a 2-in-1 Mission to Jupiter and Uranus
https://gizmodo.com/china-missions-jupi … 1849575036
Scientists recreate Neptune's 'diamonds rain' conditions on Earth
https://interestingengineering.com/scie … anus-earth
To help make nanodiamonds and revolutionize several industries on Earth.
The last and only time a spacecraft visited Triton was 30 years ago, when the Voyager 2 spacecraft flew past it on its way out of the solar system
Yes its time to explore again.
]]>Neptune and its largest moon, Triton, could be the targets of a major space mission in the decades ahead, if a group of US researchers gets its way.
Very prometheus looking...
A mission like the one being proposed could cost $3-4bn dollars and would probably need international partners.
Would be tough to get funding in current Nasa situation.
]]>Nuclear power source, regular old slow chemical propulsion presumably.
I'm of the opinion that if the travel time on these missions could be greatly sped up (via nuclear propulsion or otherwise) that we might see more public interest. The public attention span is a problem we need to deal with.
*They need to go full-hilt nuclear on the propulsion; the best ability of it we'll have when the time comes to build and prepare for launch.
Unfortunately updates pertaining to this mission are slim to none. Really, a Neptune orbiter with probes would be one of the three "icing on the cake" for me, (the others being a manned mission to Mars and a Europa probe) as my lifelong love of astronomy and etc. goes.
It's also a reminder of mortality. 30 years from now will be so different. I remember when the Voyagers launched; still just a preteen and the years spread out effortlessly. Not anymore. :? Besides, for every reason: If they can trim that time down by even 5 to 7 years with something akin to JIMO, all the better.
--Cindy
]]>NASA rated a mission to Neptune as a ‘top priority’ for the 2008-2013 term
]]>In the separate studies, planetary scientists and engineers are drawing up plans to send an orbiter laden with atmospheric probes and landers to Neptune, the eighth planet from the Sun. While each mission has its own way of reaching Neptune, both seek a better understanding of the planet and its surrounding 13 known moons, especially the oddball Triton.
Neptune's largest moon Triton, which astronomers believe is a non-native captive of its parent planet. It circles Neptune in a retrograde orbit, in the opposite direction of Neptune's rotation. It has a gossamer thin atmosphere where parachutes would be useless for any landing probe.
As noted previously in order to achive a decent timeline it will probably steal from the prometheus propulsion and may actually fly first instead of the JIMO mission.
]]>Graeme:-
If it does arrive in 2035, that will just be in time for me to retire from work so I can spend more time watching the coverage.
GREAT!!
You'll be retiring from work and I'll be retiring from breathing!!! :angry: :laugh:
I'm just hoping the two events don't coincide.
Graeme
]]>If it does arrive in 2035, that will just be in time for me to retire from work so I can spend more time watching the coverage.
GREAT!!
You'll be retiring from work and I'll be retiring from breathing!!! :angry: :laugh:
If it does arrive in 2035, that will just be in time for me to retire from work so I can spend more time watching the coverage.
Graeme
]]>to long wait :down:
]]>so studying it would give scientists a better understanding of the conditions that led to the formation of the Solar System.
*They say that in all articles pertaining to new missions. It's true...but it seems unnecessary, considering studying Neptune and its moon "upclose and personal" is reason enough (for me, anyway!).
The plan is based on the availability of nuclear-electric propulsion technology under development in NASA's Project Prometheus. A traditional chemical rocket would launch the spacecraft out of Earth orbit. Then an electric propulsion system powered by a small nuclear fission reactor - a modified submarine-type technology -- would propel the spacecraft to its deep-space target. The propulsion system would generate thrust by expelling electrically charged particles called ions from its engines.
Because of the large scientific payload a nuclear-electric propelled spacecraft can carry and power, the Neptune mission holds great promise for scientific discovery, Steffes said.
(Last time I'll say it, I promise: And yet we have to wait 30 years? <frown>)
*Landers on Triton and etc.
I look forward to it all. :up:
--Cindy
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