• Home
• Antenna Design
• Communication Systems
• Vision/Compression
• Flight Path
  • Off Earth
  • Around Earth
  • Jupiter Swing
  • Exoplanet Arrival
• Propulsion System
• Power Systems
• Resiliency of Electronics
• Budget and Timeline
• References
• Downloads

EXOPLANET ARRIVAL
Once arriving in the exoplanet system, direct remote control of the satellite becomes impossible since a signal takes 10 years to travel back and forth. The craft will have to rely on preprogrammed intelligence to slow down upon arrival, along with necessary attitude adjustments for a very close pass to the exoplanet. The decreased speed and very small radius while passing the planet will provide a tight loop to trap the satellite within an orbit about the exoplanet, where sensors can control further attitude adjustments to create a reliable and consistent circular orbit. Once locked in, the craft can begin transmitting data about its orbital details including radius, surrounding stars and planets, and photos of the exoplanet itself.