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Interstellar Mission

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Laser-powered nanocraft could reach a nearby black hole within a century to test gravity
space18 days ago

Laser-powered nanocraft could reach a nearby black hole within a century to test gravity

A speculative concept by Cosimo Bambi envisions gram‑scale, laser‑driven nanocrafts accelerated by Earth‑based lasers to roughly one‑third light speed, potentially reaching a nearby black hole 20–25 light‑years away in 60–75 years, with data returning 20–25 years later. The mission could involve two probes to test Einstein’s general relativity near the Kerr metric, investigate the event horizon, and probe fundamental constants in strong gravity. However, no suitable nearby black hole is known (Gaia BH1 is too distant), the approach requires a massive, costly laser system (on the order of a trillion euros with current tech), and significant navigation and propulsion challenges remain, so the concept is a roadmap, not a ready-to-build mission.

via The Brighter Side of News|
#black-holes#general-relativity#interstellar-mission
Low-cost interstellar probe targets Alpha Centauri on an 80,000-year journey
space1 month ago

Low-cost interstellar probe targets Alpha Centauri on an 80,000-year journey

A new nonprofit, Fermi Explorer, proposes a roughly 100–110 kg spacecraft powered by xenon ion propulsion and solar energy to reach Alpha Centauri’s future position by around 2043, then coast for about 80,000 years. Launch could occur by 2029 for under $15 million, carrying at least 1 kg of payload and a physical archival record, but with no plan to transmit data back. Success is defined as completing 99% of the distance to Alpha Centauri rather than arriving in a human lifetime; the project is unfunded and presents a long-term, exploratory interstellar concept rather than an immediately achievable mission.

via Space Daily|
#alpha-centauri#interstellar-mission#ion-propulsion
Nonprofit Plans 80,000-Year Alpha Centauri Mission for 2029 Launch
space1 month ago

Nonprofit Plans 80,000-Year Alpha Centauri Mission for 2029 Launch

A nonprofit called the Fermi Explorer Mission aims to launch a small spacecraft toward the Alpha Centauri system by 2029. The 100–200 kg probe would use electric propulsion, carry at least 1 kilogram of payload, and cost under $15 million. Advisors include Rob Meyerson and Matt Gialich, and the project is seeking donations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The mission would be the first directed interstellar journey to another star, but with an expected travel time of about 80,000 years, its arrival would occur far beyond any human lifetime. The effort is intended to demonstrate feasibility and inspire future generations, rather than provide a near-term visit to Alpha Centauri.

via Space|
#alpha-centauri#electric-propulsion#fermi-explorer-mission
Voyager 2 Survives on a Big Bang Power Swap, Extending its Interstellar Mission
space1 month ago

Voyager 2 Survives on a Big Bang Power Swap, Extending its Interstellar Mission

NASA performed a coordinated 'Big Bang' power-and-thermal swap on Voyager 2, freeing almost 10 watts to keep its three active instruments on for at least a year despite ~4 watts/year decline from the RTGs at 143 AU. It’s not a repair, but a load reallocation to manage heat and power on a spacecraft with razor-thin margins, no repair port, and no spare parts. The rearrangement preserves the magnetometer, plasma-wave subsystem, and cosmic-ray instrument, with Voyager 1 slated for a similar reconfiguration and the possibility of continued operation into the 2030s if conditions hold.

via Space Daily|
#big-bang-power-swap#interstellar-mission#nasa
NASA's Juno and Hubble Observe Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Near Jupiter
science1 year ago

NASA's Juno and Hubble Observe Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Near Jupiter

NASA's Juno spacecraft could potentially intercept the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS as it approaches Jupiter in 2025, offering a rare opportunity to study this enigmatic object up close, which may even be artificial in origin. The mission would involve a maneuver around Jupiter to rendezvous with 3I/ATLAS, providing valuable data on its composition and nature, whether natural or possibly alien technology.

via Universe Today|
#3iatlas#interstellar-mission#interstellar-objects
Scientists Propose Laser-Powered Nanocraft to Explore Black Holes
science1 year ago

Scientists Propose Laser-Powered Nanocraft to Explore Black Holes

Astrophysicist Cosimo Bambi proposes sending tiny 'nanocrafts' to study black holes, using laser propulsion to reach one-third the speed of light over 70 years, aiming to answer fundamental questions about black holes and physics under extreme conditions. Despite technological and detection challenges, the mission exemplifies human ambition to explore the universe's deepest mysteries.

via Universe Today|
#black-holes#cosmology#interstellar-mission
NASA's Voyager Probes Face Imminent Shutdown as Power Fades
science-and-technology1 year ago

NASA's Voyager Probes Face Imminent Shutdown as Power Fades

NASA's Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes, launched in 1977, are nearing the end of their missions as their nuclear batteries deplete. These batteries, which convert heat from decaying Plutonium-238 into energy, are running low, prompting NASA to gradually shut down systems to conserve power. Despite communication challenges, both probes continue to send data from beyond the heliosphere, with hopes they will last until their 50th anniversary in 2027. Once power is exhausted, the probes will drift indefinitely through space.

via Jalopnik|
#interstellar-mission#nasa#nuclear-batteries