Abstract
This thesis explores advanced propulsion technologies for deep space exploration, focusing on their potential to enable ambitious missions beyond the current limits of space travel. The research encompasses a broad analysis of historical advancements, contemporary developments, and future prospects in space propulsion.
Research of other planetary systems like our Solar system and stars is a century old dream of humankind and the greatest challenge for the world scientific community. The vast interstellar distances and limited speed of modern spacecraft are the main obstacles on this path. Exploration missions targeting the Kuiper Belt, the Oort Cloud, the gravitational focal point of the Sun, and even extending to the Alpha Centauri system represent the next frontier in space exploration. Due to the limitations of traditional methods, innovative propulsion systems are crucial to reach distant targets. Chemical propulsion, while providing high thrust for launches, suffers from low efficiency and high fuel mass requirements for long duration missions: the Voyager 1 spacecraft, launched in 1977, travelled with a cruise speed of 17 km/s (3.57 AU per year). Electric propulsion, including ion and Hall-effect thrusters, offers much higher efficiency and finds many applications nowadays but produces insufficient thrust for rapid deep space travel. Despite not much can be done with respect to the distances involved, some progress in science development could significantly change the situation to overcome the existing speed limitations. In this research we focus on low-thrust propulsion technologies that could fill the gap and finally make deep space missions accessible.
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