Scientists from MIPT and the Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics of the Russian Academy of Sciences have proposed a scheme for intercepting asteroids and comets arriving from other star systems. According to calculations, eight spacecraft, pre-positioned in Earth's orbit around the Sun, would be enough to send a probe to an object regardless of its direction of appearance.
After detecting an "interstellar guest," the system will select the nearest spacecraft and calculate its route. The probe will head towards the Sun using ion engines, accelerate due to its gravity, and then make a dash towards the target.
A solar sail is expected to save fuel. During its approach to the star, the spacecraft will constantly change the angle of its sail, gaining additional acceleration from solar radiation. Ion engines will only be activated where the sail's capabilities are insufficient.
For an object similar to 1I/ʻOumuamua, fuel consumption could be reduced from approximately 40 to 30 kilograms. However, for practical launch, sails about 40 times lighter than existing ones would be needed. Such technology could eventually allow for the study of almost every new interstellar object and even attempt to deliver samples of matter from another star system.
Read more on the topic:
- Russia creates ultra-precise Earth remote sensing satellite: KOEN will see car-sized objects from space
- Man vs. Deep Space: FMBA Works on Crew Protection in Interplanetary Missions
- There are almost no large "dangerous" asteroids left in space for Earth