A new plan to send a probe to interstellar object Oumuamua
Click to watch the animation.
Scientists have proposed a project to send an unmanned probe to Oumuamua, using the Earth, Jupiter, and then the Sun to slingshot onto a path that would catch up with the interstellar object on its journey leaving the solar system in the mid-2050s.
The project, dubbed Lyra, was first proposed in 2023. The scientists have now revised the plan to account for the greater speeds needed to catch up with Oumuamua as it continues to move away from us. It is still within the solar system, but it is moving away very fast.
The graphic to the right, a screen capture of an animation at the link, shows the spacecraft as it finally approaches the interstellar object in 2055. To get there it would launch in the early 2030s, slingshot past the Earth to reach Jupiter, which would then slow it down so that it would fall back to the Sun, passing it by less than 450,000 miles, which would slingshot it out to Oumuamua (with the help of an additional engine burn). To survive the close solar approach it would use the same technology used by the Parker Solar Probe, which has already successfully flown that close to the Sun.
It seems this is an entirely worthwhile project, since Oumuamua continues to baffle scientists as to its nature. While most belief it is a natural but very unusual interstellar asteroid, none can dismiss the possibility that it instead an alien spacecraft. The data precludes nothing. Getting close to it seems worthwhile, no matter what.
For me, that rendezvous will happen when I would be 102 years old. I don’t think I’ll be here to see it.
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Click to watch the animation.
Scientists have proposed a project to send an unmanned probe to Oumuamua, using the Earth, Jupiter, and then the Sun to slingshot onto a path that would catch up with the interstellar object on its journey leaving the solar system in the mid-2050s.
The project, dubbed Lyra, was first proposed in 2023. The scientists have now revised the plan to account for the greater speeds needed to catch up with Oumuamua as it continues to move away from us. It is still within the solar system, but it is moving away very fast.
The graphic to the right, a screen capture of an animation at the link, shows the spacecraft as it finally approaches the interstellar object in 2055. To get there it would launch in the early 2030s, slingshot past the Earth to reach Jupiter, which would then slow it down so that it would fall back to the Sun, passing it by less than 450,000 miles, which would slingshot it out to Oumuamua (with the help of an additional engine burn). To survive the close solar approach it would use the same technology used by the Parker Solar Probe, which has already successfully flown that close to the Sun.
It seems this is an entirely worthwhile project, since Oumuamua continues to baffle scientists as to its nature. While most belief it is a natural but very unusual interstellar asteroid, none can dismiss the possibility that it instead an alien spacecraft. The data precludes nothing. Getting close to it seems worthwhile, no matter what.
For me, that rendezvous will happen when I would be 102 years old. I don’t think I’ll be here to see it.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
“For me, that rendezvous will happen when I would be 102 years old. I don’t think I’ll be here to see it.”
I remember a line from one of the Hornblower books, regarding something to be resolved in the distant future: “My interest will have greatly diminished by then…”
It appears the planned route is designed to put the spacecraft on the same trajectory as the object’s trajectory, rather than trying to reach it as soon as possible. If correct, this should greatly simplify the task of “timing” the encounter, and it would allow the spacecraft to spend much more time near the object than would be possible in a typical cross-trajectory encounter.
The book ‘extraterrestrial’ by Loeb does a good job of pointing out the peculiarities of Oumuamua. Oumuamua is an interesting object, but for all practical purposes it’s gone. I think humanity would be better served by having a more conventional probe ready for the next interesting interstellar object, because there will be more.
I did not see a close solar flyby on the animation linked to the image? ~0.9 AU min.
Another thing, since we can’t see Oumuamua anymore, and if it really is “interesting”, maybe it won’t be there when we catch up! It could have been in stealth mode during its Earth flyby.
Sorry, I see it whizz by the sun after Jupiter.
Now is Oumuamua something that is worshipped by and belongs to the Hawaiians and does NASA need permission to land on it?
Assuming the goal is to decelerate to a close solar flyby to an Oberth burn to catch up, it would seem that a high mass ratio from Earth orbit could get the flight started earlier and much faster. With drop tanks, a mass ratio of 50 or more is possible. Falcon refueling to get that ratio could fly next year if it were deemed important enough. The rendezvous could move up by decades. Assuming of course that it was deemed important enough.
A “radiation rocket” that could chase down Oumuamua got one of the NIAC awards this year.
https://www.nasa.gov/general/thin-film-isotope-nuclear-engine-rocket/
The idea that a probe could conform to Oumuamua’s trajectory, while chasing it down at a significantly higher velocity, doesn’t add up.
Even if the approach trajectory could roughly approximate that of Oumuamua, the high velocity required to overtake it in a few years would mean the probe would pass by relatively quickly.
The theories advanced about the object’s nature could be proven or invalidated by a quick pass, and that means to me that we should go with a low-mass probe that could reach it much sooner and just snap a few photos.
If we see an obviously artificial construction, then we will be motivated to prepare for the next one. Remember, the Ramans always did things in threes!
I’d rather not cook the probe, thank you.
SLS with an NTR demonstrator and NEP payload allows for a sizable payload.
The thin film nuclear spallation rocket could push a sample BACK.
Expensive– yes. But this allows a de facto interstellar sample return without having to go interstellar distances by using 3 types of atomic propulsion.
All other in Solar missions should wait.
Who named that object anyway?
I’m just gonna call it Jack.
To summarize the link Patrick Underwood gave: A practical proposal from Draper Labs for a craft moving at 1e5 m/s. Compares with some lightsail concepts promising 10% of c (c = 3e8 m/s). Is able to vector thrust to catch up and slow down.
Patrick Underwood:
This very special (but innovative) propulsion system, which is based on nuclear decay and radiation and requires the radiation to be extremely intense for this purpose, must be extremely dangerous for humans. Does anyone know how to turn this propulsion on and off, if at all possible?
The thin-film radiation rocket is a great concept, but I wonder if micro-masses are found in deep space at sufficient concentration to thwart the idea – in effect turning the large surface into a “parachute”. Of course, a large non-thrusting surface acting as a parachute might be useful too!
Questioner, the synopsis mentioned a 30kg payload. I don’t think they are considering crewed missions.
Patrick Underwood:
I have no fears for a possible crew, but for the men who have to develop and test this type of propulsion and have to integrate it into the spacecraft.
What a jobs program!
This could keep hundreds working for years and still never launch.
The thing is gone. Let it go,
Catch it on its way back in.
Questioner, yes that would have to be dealt with, and no doubt such operations would be highly regulated by the DOE. Waldo and robotic operations for sure. And of course the thing would have to be launched in a safe state, such that even a launch failure would not release dangerous levels of radiation into the environment. The way RTGs are handled today. Perhaps multiple launches and robotic in-space assembly in an orbit guaranteeing no possible earth reentry.
But at this point it’s a NIAC paper. Provide enough evidence the concept might work, that’s all for now. Obviously a long road to real hardware and operations, with a high probability of failure. But it’s a cool idea!
Well, I speculated on another blog about something similar to extend the Voyager(s) missions. We already have satellites designed to refuel other Earth orbiting satellites that are using up their fuel/energy. The two concepts I remember are 1) actually refueling, and 2) attaching to the other satellite to provide propulsion, movement. The Voyagers run on Plutonium RTGs. Would it be possible to attach another RTG and extend the mission? SpaceX already plans on refueling in space. Imagine sending something out to the Voyagers to extend their abilities/lifetime. Imagine a couple of SpaceX’s Superheavy boosting the device. Combined with a few gravity assist maneuvers, it could reach Voyager.
Just like with many things in outer space, one can dream.
Ronaldus Magnus wrote: “Just like with many things in outer space, one can dream.”
Yes, we can dream, but you dream BIG. Keep it up, as it is the first step in making progress. First comes the dream, such as Disney and von Braun in the 1950s. Then comes the ideas for how to do it. Then the plan, followed by the funding. Development, design, and manufacture come next, followed by launch. Every launch has followed that path, but getting the dreams all the way to the launch pad is the hard part.