Dwarf Planet Eris, formerly known as 'Xena' |
Dwarf Planet Eris, formerly known as 'Xena' |
Sep 13 2006, 10:59 PM
Post
#1
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 531 Joined: 24-August 05 Member No.: 471 |
Here's the official name of the 'Xena' ...
Eris: 'Xena' (2003 UB313, 136199) Eris I or Dysnomia: 'Gabrielle' -------------------- - blue_scape / Nico -
|
|
|
Oct 7 2007, 08:52 PM
Post
#2
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1887 Joined: 20-November 04 From: Iowa Member No.: 110 |
Eris is currently 97 AU from the sun. It took Voyager 1, currently the most distant functioning probe, nearly 30 years to reach that distance. NASA probably would have to develop some new propulsion technology before a mission to Eris would be considered.
|
|
|
Oct 8 2007, 04:03 AM
Post
#3
|
|
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 10 Joined: 10-January 06 From: Syracuse, NY, USA Member No.: 641 |
Eris is currently 97 AU from the sun. It took Voyager 1, currently the most distant functioning probe, nearly 30 years to reach that distance. NASA probably would have to develop some new propulsion technology before a mission to Eris would be considered. Yes, but the Voyager trajectories were formulated with something other than raw speed to the outer Kuiper belt in mind. I'm not saying that new propulsion tech wouldn't be needed, but I would bet something substantially faster than V1 could be sent using present day tech (and some well timed flybys of outer planets along the way). You might have to wait a decade or five for the proper alignment to reach Eris, though. this brings up an interesting question, what is the fastest possible solar system escape velocity possible using only presently available launch vehicles and gravitational assists from th outer planets? Assume you have an RTG-powered mission of some useful mass (300-500kg, no ion thrusters of any kind, no solar sails..........), basically a New Horizons clone, and no new propulsion tech. What's the theoretical maximum? There are probably once-in-a-millennium alignments of Jupiter and Saturn that would allow for speeds well in excess of anything we've sent so far. Someone has to have done a simulation at some point...... -dave V. |
|
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 22nd June 2024 - 08:28 PM |
RULES AND GUIDELINES Please read the Forum Rules and Guidelines before posting. IMAGE COPYRIGHT |
OPINIONS AND MODERATION Opinions expressed on UnmannedSpaceflight.com are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of UnmannedSpaceflight.com or The Planetary Society. The all-volunteer UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderation team is wholly independent of The Planetary Society. The Planetary Society has no influence over decisions made by the UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderators. |
SUPPORT THE FORUM Unmannedspaceflight.com is funded by the Planetary Society. Please consider supporting our work and many other projects by donating to the Society or becoming a member. |