Since we are not talking about homebuilt rockets, I was wondering if we
might talk about homebuilt space missions:
A top level analysis suggests it would take about 60 Km / sec to catch
Oumuamua in about 20 years.
Another very top level analysis suggests that a gravity assist at Jupiter
(solely to turn the plane from near ecliptic to near that of Oumuamua; near
to but less than 90 degrees) followed by a 50 solar radii assist at the Sun
(Parker is doing 10 radii as I recall but it carries way too much heat
shield for this mission) can pretty certainly get to 50 km / sec.
One of NASA Glenn’s Stirling cycle RTG’s tied to an existing commercial
electric thruster appears capable of making up the difference with a big
fuel tank.
Assuming a New Horizons-like spacecraft, but much smaller, a flyby seems
possible based on this very top level analysis.
I’d be real interested in helpful comments.
Bill