The authors of a new paper published in the journal Planetary and Space Science presented their vision for a mission to study future interstellar objects that will visit the solar system.
Although only two such objects have been accurately discovered, new telescopes will reveal more of them. Scientists believe that a mission to escort such an object as it leaves the solar system will allow us to find out how our part of space differs from anything beyond its boundaries.
So far, astronomers have confirmed the passage of comet 2I/Borisov and the object Oumuamua through the solar system. Although the interstellar comet resembles local comets in many ways, ‘Oumuamua is clearly slightly different.
Hypotheses were raised in light of its unexpected behavior, including fleeting speculation that it might have been an alien spacecraft. Astronomers have debated its origins for years.
The authors of the article believe that in the near future it will be possible to discover new interstellar objects, for example, thanks to the Vera Rubin Observatory, which will become operational next year.
It is believed that the new telescope will reveal millions of unknown objects on the edge of the solar system, some of which definitely come from another galaxy.
Therefore, scientists propose to send a spacecraft to study one of these objects, which can catch up with it and then guide it into interstellar space.
Scientists believe that NASA should accept this idea, because such a mission will provide the opportunity to obtain a lot of new information about space.
The authors of the article write that it is not known exactly how many interstellar objects will be discovered, but they will certainly appear in the solar system in the near future. In addition, such objects can fly very close to Earth, allowing them to be studied up close.
This mission requires the device to be launched from Earth or space. Simulations show that the interstellar object will be within 1.5 billion km of Earth (about the distance of Saturn) within 770 days.
This means everything has to be ready for launch at any time, as it is unknown when a new space rover will be discovered in the solar system.
Although launching a spacecraft from Earth, as shown by modeling, will be more effective in terms of intercepting an interstellar object, no more than a month should be spent preparing the launch vehicle from the moment of discovery.
But this is a very short period, which means that the launch vehicle must remain on the launch pad for several years until the space rover is discovered.
Therefore, scientists offer another option. They believe that a fully prepared spacecraft should be sent into orbit. When a suitable target is detected, the device starts its engines, using Earth’s gravity to gain speed and fly towards the interstellar object.
The paper is open access Planetary and space science.
