The new proposal from scientists may seem like the plot of a science fiction movie, but physicists believe it is quite feasible. We just need to solve at least two main problems.
What physical processes occur inside a black hole? Physicists have many theories on this matter, including the suggestion that unknown physics could be discovered inside a black hole. Black holes absorb all matter and even light, making it impossible to return once inside. Scientists can observe some physical processes of black holes using space and ground telescopes, but observing the physics of black holes from a close distance is still a challenge. The authors of a study published in the journal iScience hope that this situation will change in the near future. They propose sending a unique mission into a black hole that could transmit extremely valuable data before disappearing into the depths of the black hole, writes Popular Mechanics.
Physicists suggest sending a spacecraft weighing a few grams to the nearest black hole to conduct measurements that would help better understand fundamental questions of physics. For example, how does Einstein's general theory of relativity behave under extreme conditions, and do black holes really have an event horizon, which is a boundary beyond which it is impossible to return to normal space? It is also interesting to find out whether unknown physical processes occur inside a black hole. Such a spacecraft must be able to send data back to Earth before it disappears into the depths of the black hole.
However, this potential mission faces many obstacles, including high costs, the duration of the flight, and the fact that there are currently no suitable technologies and no very close black holes have been discovered.
Despite these obstacles, physicists believe that in the next 20–30 years, suitable conditions may arise to launch such a mission. According to scientists, this may currently seem like the plot of a science fiction movie, but the same gravitational waves (ripples in spacetime caused by the movement of massive objects in space) were predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916 and were only detected in 2015. This means that seemingly impossible ideas can still be realized.
Physicists propose sending a tiny spacecraft, the size of a paperclip, but equipped with miniature high-precision scientific instruments. It should use light for propulsion instead of traditional rocket fuel. Because the spacecraft will be very lightweight, it can be accelerated to a high fraction of the speed of light, theoretically allowing it to reach the nearest black hole within a human lifetime.
Such a spacecraft needs to be equipped with a light sail that will use light pressure for movement, just as sails on yachts use wind for propulsion. Similar light sails already exist, and further improvements are underway.
Scientists believe that the flight time to the black hole could take about 100 years, but it is also necessary to develop the required technologies to implement the mission.
A more challenging task may be finding a black hole that this spacecraft can reach within 100 years. For this, the spacecraft will need to target a black hole located only 20–25 light-years from Earth. However, the nearest known black hole to Earth is 1560 light-years away. Physicists believe that in the next 5–10 years, thanks to data obtained from new telescopes, a closer black hole will be discovered.
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