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Direct Exoplanet Investigation Using Interstellar Space Probes

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Handbook of Exoplanets

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Abstract

Experience in exploring our own solar system has shown that direct investigation of planetary bodies using space probes invariably yields scientific knowledge not otherwise obtainable. In the case of exoplanets, such direct investigation may be required to confirm inferences made by astronomical observations, especially with regard to planetary interiors, surface processes, geological evolution, and possible biology. This will necessitate transporting sophisticated scientific instruments across interstellar space, and some proposed methods for achieving this with flight times measured in decades are reviewed. It is concluded that, with the possible exception of very lightweight (and thus scientifically limited) probes accelerated to velocities of ∼0.1c with powerful Earth-based lasers, achieving such a capability may have to wait until the development of a space-based civilization capable of leveraging the material and energy resources of the solar system.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London, London, UK

    Ian A. Crawford

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  1. Ian A. Crawford
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Correspondence to Ian A. Crawford .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, La Laguna, Spain

    Hans J. Deeg

  2. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, La Laguna, Spain

    Juan Antonio Belmonte

Section Editor information

  1. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

    Hans J. Deeg

  2. Departamento de Astrofísica, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

    Hans J. Deeg

  3. LUTh, UMR 8102, Observatoire de Paris, 5 place Jules Janssen, F-92195 Meudon Cedex, France

    Jean Schneider

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Crawford, I.A. (2023). Direct Exoplanet Investigation Using Interstellar Space Probes. In: Deeg, H.J., Belmonte, J.A. (eds) Handbook of Exoplanets . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30648-3_167-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30648-3_167-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-30648-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-30648-3

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Direct Exoplanet Investigation Using Interstellar Space Probes
    Published:
    14 September 2023

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30648-3_167-2

  2. Original

    Direct Exoplanet Investigation Using Interstellar Space Probes
    Published:
    18 August 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30648-3_167-1

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