Astronomers have long been fascinated by Sedna, a cold, reddish dwarf planet that orbits the Sun at incredible distances. Discovered in 2003, Sedna is thought to be one of the most distant known objects orbiting our star. Its 10,000-year orbit takes it billions of miles away from the Sun before bringing it close for a relatively brief encounter.
To take advantage of this rare opportunity, researchers from Italy have proposed two experimental propulsion concepts that could reach Sedna in seven to 10 years using cutting-edge technology. The first concept involves a nuclear fusion rocket engine, which could cut travel time by over 50% compared to traditional methods. The second concept uses a new take on solar sailing technology, which could also reach Sedna in just seven years.
The proposed mission concepts have sparked excitement among scientists, who see them as a chance to gather crucial clues about the early formation of our solar system and explore the theoretical Oort Cloud. While there are challenges associated with both concepts, they offer a significant time advantage over traditional methods.
Sedna’s extremely eccentric orbit takes it 84 billion miles away from the Sun at its farthest point, or nearly three times farther than Neptune. Despite this distance, spacecraft could potentially reach Sedna due to its close approach in July 2076. The launch window is fast approaching, with no clear plans yet in place.
The Direct Fusion Drive (DFD) rocket engine and solar sail technology are currently being developed at Princeton University’s Plasma Physics Laboratory and are still experimental in nature. However, they offer promising alternatives to conventional propulsion methods. If successful, these mission concepts could provide scientists with a unique opportunity to explore the mysterious object and better understand our solar system’s boundary.
The two proposed missions would offer distinct benefits: one allowing for a flyby of Sedna, while the other could insert a spacecraft into its orbit for a longer mission. Either way, they would provide us with groundbreaking observations of the previously unexplored region and help scientists advance our understanding of the solar system.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/experimental-propulsion-tech-could-reach-mysterious-planet-beyond-pluto-in-10-years-2000622774