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Summarize this content to 100 words Research missions to the outer part of the Solar System are still lacking, despite the fact that in the set of publications “Ten-Year Review of Planetary Sciences 2013-2022.” they were listed as high priority. Moreover, many planets in the outer part of the solar system have never even been flown by a probe. In particular, for one of them – Uranus – we are forced to rely on Voyager 2 data obtained by instruments created more than 50 years ago, or terrestrial observations. Neither solution allows you to truly understand the strange physics going on with this planet, which is essentially lying on its side. And although many mission architectures have already been proposed to explore this planet, it’s always interesting to look at a new one when it appears.The Stanford team proposed a new concept called Sustained CubeSat Activity Through Transmitter Electromagnetic Radiation (SCATTER). She received a grant from NASA’s Advanced Concepts Institute to develop this idea. Some time ago they released a report that is worth checking out.One of the main obstacles that must be overcome in the study of Uranus is a way to provide the space probe with energy. It is too far away for solar panels to be of any benefit, so the only viable option is a radioisotope heat generator (RTG). They were used in missions such as the Voyager probes and have been gradually improved since then. However, they are too large, which makes them impractical for small satellites.Uranus also has a dynamic environment that is difficult to observe from just one satellite. Its magnetic field, which is one of the most interesting parts of Uranus, changes almost every day. A single orbiting probe will not be able to detect the necessary changes in this system, because at any time it can collect data about the magnetic field at only one point.It would be better to have multiple probes with sensors spread throughout the Uranus system. Then they could observe the dynamic change of the magnetic field from different spatial vantage points. But such a multiprobe system will be prohibitively expensive to send satellites to Uranus with their own RTG.Therefore, Dr. Sigrid Close and her team at Stanford decided to try to solve this problem with another promising technology – beam energy transfer. Recently, it was already reported about the successful test of a satellite that transmits electricity to the Earth as part of the first experiment of its kind. However, the laws of physics do not limit the transfer of energy from the satellite to the ground station. The same technology can remotely power any device anywhere in the solar system.The system developed by Dr. Close and her team is based on the idea of a base station with powerful X-rays, which then launches a series of small CubeSat-type satellites carrying sensors throughout the Uranus system. The base station will be the power source and communication hub for the CubeSat throughout the system. It will generate energy using X-rays and transmit it to the CubeSat via a beam. CubeSats, in turn, will monitor the environment and transmit data about magnetic fields and other electromagnetic radiation to a base station, which can then transmit them back to Earth using its more reliable communications system.In addition, the CubeSat can use the energy it transmits from the base station for navigation. By deploying the solar sail, the CubeSats will be able to use the radiation pressure created by the beam from the station to move around the Uranus system, which, in addition to the huge planet, contains no less than 27 different moons.Understanding the fundamental physics behind the power beam and sail propulsion was the subject of a paper by Dr. Close and her colleagues at the 2022 AIAA SCITECH Forum. Of primary interest was the question of what size CubeSat would be ideal for this mission. They settled on a 0.5U cubesat measuring 10 x 10 x 5 cm and weighing about 500 g. This configuration made it possible to find an optimal compromise between maneuverability and the ability to transfer energy.This is just one of many concepts proposed for the next mission to Uranus, and although the project has been completed as early as 2021, it is not yet clear if there is any active research under way. However, there are still many steps to go before the launch. The article proposes a launch in 2043-2045, and arrival to the planet in 2054, so there is still enough time to finalize the mission architecture. But for now, even spreading the new concept makes sense, regardless of whether the mission sees the light of day.
Engineers propose to surround Uranus with a ring of microsatellites
Research missions to the outer part of the Solar System are still lacking, despite the fact that in the set of publications “Ten-Year Review of Planetary Sciences 2013-2022.” they were listed as high priority. Moreover, many planets in the outer part of the solar system have never even been flown by a probe. In particular, for one of them – Uranus – we are forced to rely on Voyager 2 data obtained by instruments created more than 50 years ago, or terrestrial observations. Neither solution allows you to truly understand the strange physics going on with this planet, which is essentially lying on its side. And although many mission architectures have already been proposed to explore this planet, it’s always interesting to look at a new one when it appears.
The Stanford team proposed a new concept called Sustained CubeSat Activity Through Transmitter Electromagnetic Radiation (SCATTER). She received a grant from NASA’s Advanced Concepts Institute to develop this idea. Some time ago they released a report that is worth checking out.
One of the main obstacles that must be overcome in the study of Uranus is a way to provide the space probe with energy. It is too far away for solar panels to be of any benefit, so the only viable option is a radioisotope heat generator (RTG). They were used in missions such as the Voyager probes and have been gradually improved since then. However, they are too large, which makes them impractical for small satellites.
Uranus also has a dynamic environment that is difficult to observe from just one satellite. Its magnetic field, which is one of the most interesting parts of Uranus, changes almost every day. A single orbiting probe will not be able to detect the necessary changes in this system, because at any time it can collect data about the magnetic field at only one point.
It would be better to have multiple probes with sensors spread throughout the Uranus system. Then they could observe the dynamic change of the magnetic field from different spatial vantage points. But such a multiprobe system will be prohibitively expensive to send satellites to Uranus with their own RTG.
Therefore, Dr. Sigrid Close and her team at Stanford decided to try to solve this problem with another promising technology – beam energy transfer. Recently, it was already reported about the successful test of a satellite that transmits electricity to the Earth as part of the first experiment of its kind. However, the laws of physics do not limit the transfer of energy from the satellite to the ground station. The same technology can remotely power any device anywhere in the solar system.
The system developed by Dr. Close and her team is based on the idea of a base station with powerful X-rays, which then launches a series of small CubeSat-type satellites carrying sensors throughout the Uranus system. The base station will be the power source and communication hub for the CubeSat throughout the system. It will generate energy using X-rays and transmit it to the CubeSat via a beam. CubeSats, in turn, will monitor the environment and transmit data about magnetic fields and other electromagnetic radiation to a base station, which can then transmit them back to Earth using its more reliable communications system.
In addition, the CubeSat can use the energy it transmits from the base station for navigation. By deploying the solar sail, the CubeSats will be able to use the radiation pressure created by the beam from the station to move around the Uranus system, which, in addition to the huge planet, contains no less than 27 different moons.
Understanding the fundamental physics behind the power beam and sail propulsion was the subject of a paper by Dr. Close and her colleagues at the 2022 AIAA SCITECH Forum. Of primary interest was the question of what size CubeSat would be ideal for this mission. They settled on a 0.5U cubesat measuring 10 x 10 x 5 cm and weighing about 500 g. This configuration made it possible to find an optimal compromise between maneuverability and the ability to transfer energy.
This is just one of many concepts proposed for the next mission to Uranus, and although the project has been completed as early as 2021, it is not yet clear if there is any active research under way. However, there are still many steps to go before the launch. The article proposes a launch in 2043-2045, and arrival to the planet in 2054, so there is still enough time to finalize the mission architecture. But for now, even spreading the new concept makes sense, regardless of whether the mission sees the light of day.
