Deep space flight and communications

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Most books on interstellar flight focus on propulsion systems, but this work addresses two equally crucial aspects of such missions. The first part explores the Sun's gravitational lensing effect for scientific missions extending to 550 AU and beyond. The author details how the Sun acts as a gravitational lens, the scientific investigations possible along the journey and at the 550 AU boundary, the requirements for exiting the Solar System at high speeds, and various project ideas for interstellar exploration. The second part tackles the challenges of communication between an interstellar spacecraft and Earth, particularly at high velocities. It evaluates mathematical tools related to the Karhunen-Loève Transform (KLT) for optimal telecommunications, which may one day facilitate communication for humans traveling through the Galaxy. This section begins with a summary of the author’s 2003 Pešek Lecture at the IAC in Bremen, introducing KLT to engineers and newcomers. A DVD is planned to accompany the book, containing full mathematical derivations of KLT for those interested, while the text will present results without extensive mathematical proofs. This approach allows astronautical engineers to understand practical applications without getting overwhelmed by complex mathematics.