Hitekno.com – In 2017, object a quarter of a mile long which can be ten times longer than wide, identified as an object interstellar first known and observed to pass through our solar system.
Reported by Sputnik NewsDubbed ‘Oumuamua, the cigar-like object has a shape unlike anything previously observed in our solar system.
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For scientist he warned the public that he was ready to intercept the next interstellar visitor (“according to Oumuamua) who passes through our solar system to unwittingly prevent such officials as when the still mysterious” Oumuamua made its grand arrival in 2017.
The origins and composition of ‘Oumuamua remain unknown to scientists, with theories ranging from exoplanetary fragments to alien technology. Either way, scientists believe that if we had been able to observe it closely, we could have uncovered more secrets about the formation of our galaxy and what lies beyond our solar system.
The biggest mystery of the object may not be its strange size, unknown composition or provenance, but rather why ‘Oumuamua suddenly accelerated while in our solar system, an event that baffled scientists.
Scientists are not yet ready for ‘Oumuamua as it whizzes around the sun and whizzes out of our reach, first past Mars and then Jupiter’s orbit. Currently, it is estimated to be nearly 3 billion miles away from Earth.
Now, scientists are developing plans for the next interested interstellar object to pass through our solar system and they want Earth to be ready this time around.
Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb and astrophysics student Amir Siraj have written a paper detailing what would be required for such a mission.
It was Loeb who famously first theorized that ‘Oumuamua could be part of alien technology.
Their paper covers a potential timeline, the required speed of the spacecraft, and how close they think the vehicle should be to the object.
“This could be a useful resource for other teams putting together custom designs for interstellar object missions,” Siraj told Motherboard Vice.
“This is basically a physics checklist that missions have to fulfill and it also contextualizes the types of missions we need to do it successfully.”
Loeb and Siraj suggest that the spacecraft should wait, ready to intercept interesting objects from beyond our solar system.
Following the discovery of ‘Oumuamua in October 2017, the mysterious object reached its closest point to Earth in August 2019 and, less than a year later, is so far away that it can no longer be detected by telescopes.
Ideally, the spacecraft should be within a few hundred miles of the object and take photos that would help identify the object’s composition.
Siraj and Loeb aren’t the only ones with plans to track interstellar objects. NASA scientists unveiled the “Bridge to the Stars” plan in 2020, although the project is still in its conceptual phase.
Meanwhile, the European Space Agency plans to launch a “Comet Interceptor” which will be stored in the L2 region.
That project focuses on intercepting objects from the outer edge of our solar system, but it can be reused to capture interstellar objects if one gets close.
Meanwhile, the Interstellar Studies Initiative is not ready to give up ‘Oumuamua.
Earlier this year, they proposed Project Lyra, intending to send a spacecraft in search of the mysterious object and hoping to capture it in early 2047.
If their plan were to be realized, it would require the fastest man-made spacecraft, exceeding the speed of the Voyager spacecraft.
