← Back to NASA Technology Projects
Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)
A fuller understanding of the Heliopause would require in-situ measurements at various points in the Heliopause, which is impractical for current propulsion methods and mission timelines. We will design a mission architecture that makes this scenario realistic from both a cruise time and mission cost perspective by using solar sail-enabled trajectories and designing a probe that can be manufactured by industry. The Voyager Spacecraft have reached the Heliopause and greatly improved our understanding of the region. This journey took 35 years. A fuller understanding of the Heliopause would require in-situ measurements at various points in the Heliopause, which is impractical for current propulsion methods and mission timelines. Further, the solar system plane is inclined above the galactic plane by ~60°, doubling the science targets (six cardinal directions in both reference frames.) A total of 10-12 probes will be needed to explore the heliopause along both frames of reference and truly understand the 3d structure of the region. We will design a mission architecture that makes this scenario realistic from both a cruise time and mission cost perspective by using solar sail-enabled trajectories and designing a probe that can be manufactured by industry.
The Voyager program gives us tantalizing clues as to the nature and behavior of the Heliopause--the boundary between the sun's influence and the interstellar medium. This information comes from forty-year old instruments designed to study the outer planets. A targeted Heliopause investigation would give insight into the formation of the solar system, the role of the sun in the local interstellar neighborhood, and contribute to human exploration planning by helping to predict periods of low galactic cosmic ray penetration into the inner solar system.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.