WJETech Spa
(we push from the inside)
Receiving
information from a probe to Proxima Centauri in our lifetime (28.3 years) using
available technology and gravity assist maneuver.
By
William J. Elliott (abridged)
If we combine Zac Manchester’s “nanocraft” concept (a 2
gram space probe) with a propellantless propulsion the Fluid
Space Drive (government startup funds recipient) and send the
probe with a constant acceleration of 0.2 mps to Proxima Centauri where it will make use of a gravity assist maneuver (gravitational slingshot or
swing-by) to return to solar system in 28.3 years to share its data.
The trip will be divided in
3 parts
1) 20 years to Proxima
2) Gravity assist maneuver
(slingshot) to return to Sol without decelerating
3) 8.2 years returning to
Sol.
The probe can be a 2 gram
nanocraft as proposed by Zac Manchester at Cornell, its tiny mass will permit high velocity with a small but
constant acceleration.
Thrust will be provided by
a Fluid Space Drive, working propellantless propulsion
that works by using the natural behavior of air molecules to randomize the vector
(direction) of each colliding gas molecule (see),
this proposal received startup funding in 2019 from the Chilean government
(Corfo)
The Ship
The ship will be as simple as possible:
The Ship
Payload
Part one journey to Proxima
Centauri
We can expect a constant
acceleration of 0.2 mps, the payload (probe) will be a very small fraction of
the spacecraft’s mass, most of the mass will be the RTG power source.
The spacecraft with probe
will arrive at Proxima in 20.18 years with a velocity of 129,199.566 mph.
If there is a technological
civilization on one of the (possible) planets they will be very nervous if they
detect an accelerating object coming at them
Part two gravity assist maneuver (slingshot)
The nanocraft must have
sufficient processing power to:
Detect star and orbiting
planets.
Calculate course necessary
for gravity assist maneuver using the gravity of Proxima star and instruct
spacecraft to modify course and slingshot back to Sol.
Collect as much data as
possible before proceeding to sol.
Part three return to Sol
As the spacecraft starts
its return journey with an initial velocity of approx. 129,199.566 mph, with a constant acceleration
of 0.2 mps it will travel for 8.2 years with a final velocity of 160,226.9 kps.
Execute a flyby in the outer solar system and transmit its data to earth where
hopefully there will be somebody that remembers to listen.
Note:
it is important that the spaceship does not try to reach planet earth because a
mass of 38 kilos (the RTG power source) at that velocity will be a Relativistic
Kinetic Energy weapon of mass destruction.
Wjetech Spa is a
technological aerospace startup founded October 2019 initially funded by Corfo
(Chilean economic development agency) and micro
investors.
We
have the backing of ACHIDE
(Asociación Chilena del Espacio)
If you wish to receive updates on this project please send
email to wjeconsultant@gmail.com
