The spacecraft will be powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) with a science payload mass of greater than 50 kilograms. Long March 3B and larger Long March 5 rockets are under consideration for launch, depending on which propulsion systems—dual-mode chemical propulsion systems or monopropellant and ion-electric propulsion—are selected.A further mission proposal noted in the paper would head away from the Sun perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic. That mission would launch in 2030 and be powered by a nuclear thermal reactor.
Achieving speeds of around 6 AU per year, the spacecraft could also target extreme Kuiper Belt Objects on its highly inclined trajectory. The technology maturity level for the mission is noted as low, thus requiring breakthroughs and verification.
