Minimal Four-Thruster System Enables Comet-Based Interstellar Navigation

This research explores the feasibility of using interstellar comets as platforms for deep-space navigation, requiring only minimal modification. The core innovation lies in the proposed four-thruster system, comprising one primary and three secondary jets strategically positioned to leverage the comet's natural rotation and volatile resources. The secondary jets facilitate continuous in-plane steering, while the primary jet manages attitude shaping through phase-scheduled firing, enabling out-of-plane maneuvers. This approach relaxes the need for full six-degree-of-freedom control, simplifying the system's design and reducing its resource demands.

The study formalizes reachability under bounded-curvature constraints and characterizes the rotation-mediated steering envelope, providing a framework for understanding the system's operational limits. Key enabling requirements include the availability of non-solar power at large heliocentric distances, which presents a significant engineering challenge. The findings contribute to the broader field of small-body mission dynamics and control, offering a reference architecture for long-horizon deep-space exploration and potential planetary defense strategies. The implications for multi-planetary logistics are significant, as this approach could drastically reduce the cost and complexity of interstellar travel by utilizing in-situ resources and minimizing the need for extensive spacecraft construction.

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