Exploring NASA's Ambitious Interstellar Mission Plans
Written on
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Interstellar Mission
NASA is actively considering an interstellar mission that could redefine our understanding of the cosmos. If successful, the Interstellar Probe would mark the first spacecraft to journey beyond the Kuiper Belt.
Recently, I discussed the discovery of C/2019 Q4 (Borisov), the second known interstellar object to pass through our solar system. This comet, named after its discoverer, Gennady Borisov, is set to linger for a few more months, allowing astronomers to examine it closely.
The world-renowned space agency, NASA, has plans to launch an interstellar mission as early as 2030. This endeavor would be the first of its kind since Voyager 1, which took to the skies on September 5, 1977. Voyager 1 became the first spacecraft to enter interstellar space in 2012, following its exploration of Jupiter and Saturn. Meanwhile, Voyager 2 continues to operate at the edge of our solar system.
While we have gained significant insights into our solar system, understanding the vastness of interstellar space remains a challenge. However, a dedicated research team is set on pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration to turn this aspiration into reality.
Section 1.1: The Interstellar Probe Initiative
The Interstellar Probe project commenced last summer at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, under NASA’s Heliophysics division. After a year of research, the team is now fine-tuning the engineering aspects of the mission. They plan to present a comprehensive proposal to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Heliophysics decadal survey by the end of 2021 to assess its viability.
Subsection 1.1.1: Mission Specifications
The mission envisions launching a lightweight spacecraft weighing approximately 1,700 pounds using NASA's powerful Space Launch System rocket, which is anticipated to be ready by 2021. This rocket will initially propel the probe into space, after which it will harness gravitational assists to accelerate to speeds exceeding 100,000 miles per hour.
The researchers are evaluating two potential gravity-assist methods: one from the gas giant Jupiter and the other from our Sun. Utilizing the Sun would be more beneficial as it could impart greater momentum to the probe than Jupiter could.
Section 1.2: The Challenges Ahead
“We're situated within a bubble, trying to discern its shape, which is quite challenging. The distinctiveness of an interstellar probe lies in our ability to venture out and capture an image of our little habitable bubble in space.”
~ Pontus Brandt, Team Researcher
A significant obstacle is that the probe must approach the Sun closer than the Parker Solar Probe, currently the closest human-made object to the star. This necessitates robust heat shielding, potentially increasing the probe's weight. The team is striving to identify the optimal position that maximizes the probe's momentum while ensuring its structural integrity.
Chapter 2: Goals and Instruments of the Probe
The ultimate objective of the interstellar probe is to deploy a spacecraft capable of enduring 50 years and traveling a staggering 92 billion miles—1,000 times the distance between Earth and the Sun. For context, Voyager 1 and 2 are now approximately 13 billion miles away from Earth and have been in space for over 42 years. The new probe aims to cover this distance in under 15 years.
The interstellar probe will be equipped with advanced instruments designed to analyze interstellar space. Scientists are particularly keen on studying the heliosphere, which is a bubble of space maintained by solar wind pressure. The boundary separating interstellar space from the heliosphere is called the heliopause. Beyond this boundary, solar particles diminish, giving way to cosmic particles from the Milky Way galaxy.
This region, influenced by the solar winds, has long posed questions for scientists. The interstellar probe may hold the key to unraveling some of the deep-space mysteries that have persisted for decades.
The first video discusses the potential future of NASA's interstellar mission and what it may look like after the Voyager probes.
The second video explores how the Space Launch System could enable near-term interstellar missions, providing insights into the technology needed for such an endeavor.