# The Challenges of Sending a Probe to Oumuamua
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Oumuamua
A subscriber recently posed an intriguing question regarding the interstellar object Oumuamua: "If scientists speculate that it could be an alien spacecraft, why hasn’t NASA launched a mission to investigate?" This query highlights a persistent curiosity within the scientific community and among the public about the true nature of Oumuamua, which has captivated imaginations since its discovery.
Section 1.1: The Nature of Oumuamua
While some researchers have suggested that Oumuamua might be an artificial structure, the consensus is that the likelihood of it being a product of intelligent design is quite low.
Section 1.2: The Feasibility of a Mission
Understanding the challenges involved in a mission to Oumuamua requires consideration of its trajectory. This interstellar asteroid was only detected when it was already departing our solar system, and it is traveling at an astonishing speed of 88 kilometers per second. This velocity is a key indicator of its interstellar origins.
Planning and constructing a space mission is not only intricate but also time-intensive. Currently, no space agency—including NASA or Roscosmos—has spacecraft ready for an immediate launch. Each research vessel is custom-built to meet the specific goals and requirements of its intended mission.
Additionally, we must consider the financial implications. Such missions come with hefty price tags. Convincing a government to allocate several hundred million dollars for an exploratory mission is no simple task. Realistically, preparing a mission to Oumuamua would require at least five years, even under the most optimistic projections.
Section 1.3: The Speed Dilemma
Given Oumuamua's rapid speed, if a mission were to be initiated today, it would not commence for a minimum of five years. During this time, the object would continue to move away from Earth at approximately 88 kilometers per second.
Even if we could create a spacecraft that travels at twice the speed of the Parker probe—currently the fastest human-made craft—it would still take decades to reach Oumuamua. By that time, the asteroid would have moved so far from the Sun that its energy could be inadequate for spacecraft operation. A radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) would likely be necessary, but these also have limited lifespans and decreasing energy output over time.
Chapter 2: Conclusion
In essence, the possibility that Oumuamua is connected to extraterrestrial intelligence is so minimal that it doesn’t justify the extensive time and resources needed to organize a complex mission. If Oumuamua had been detected while approaching our solar system—say, several years prior to its closest encounter with the Sun—the scenario could have been different. In that case, a mission might have been planned, not to validate its potential alien origins, but to study the interstellar object itself, which presents a fascinating opportunity for scientific inquiry.
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