Perhaps in light of recent measurements ToughSF directs his readers to NASA's Trident mission. October 2025 or October 2026, there's a planetary alignment to shave delta-V from the initial thrust; Venus and Earth (if 2025, passing 2027, 2028, 2031) and then Jupiter (2032) providing the rest. Arrival 2038, or 2039.
The flybys present opportunity to test the instruments. Like at Io.
Problem: I don't think this mission actually stops at Neptune orbit. 2032 to 2038 for a 25+ AU curved geodesic is FAST. It's billed as a thirteen-day flyby. So we're not getting a new Cassini; it's a new Voyager. Trident would however get to map more of Triton than Voyager did in 1989.
NASA tossed this one in the bin last June but maybe some other agency might hurry up with a similar slate of sensors, and pack it all onto a Starship.
I'd not mind to throw in some NTP, to slow this thing down after getting thrown from Jupiter. It would get to Neptune maybe 2040 but then it would get to stay there.
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