2010/10/22 by Ian Crawford, Ian A. Crawford · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph.GA #astro-ph.IM
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2010.10.016
Accepted for publication in Acta Astronautica (DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2010.10.016)
arxiv created 2010/10/22 · arxiv updated 2010/10/26 · openalex publication_date 2010/10/31 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
I review those properties of the interstellar medium within 15 light-years of the Sun which will be relevant for the planning of future rapid (v /ge 0.1c) interstellar space missions to the nearest stars. As the detailed properties of the local interstellar medium (LISM) may only become apparent after interstellar probes have been able to make in situ measurements, the first such probes will have to be designed conservatively with respect to what can be learned about the LISM from the immediate environment of the Solar System. It follows that studies of interstellar vehicles should assume the lowest plausible density when considering braking devices which rely on transferring momentum from the vehicle to the surrounding medium, but the highest plausible densities when considering possible damage caused by impact of the vehicle with interstellar material. Some suggestions for working values of these parameters are provided. This paper is a submission of the Project Icarus Study Group.