3 ms·

It's not skimmed over, they cover it near the end in the "Requirements and challenges" section: > The most challenging phase of the mission may be related to h

It's not skimmed over, they cover it near the end in the "Requirements and challenges" section: > The most challenging phase of the mission may be related to how the nanocraft can transfer from an unbound to a bound orbit and start orbiting around the compact object. All possible solutions should be considered carefully. In the case the transfer is not possible, we may redesign the mission to perform the scientific tests when the nanocraft passes close to the black hole. For example, when the nanocraft is close to the black hole, it may separate into a mother-nanocraft (with a wafer and sail) and a number of small nanocrafts (without sails). The nanocrafts could communicate with each other by exchanging electromagnetic signals. The mother-nanocraft could compare the trajectories of the small nanocrafts to those expected in a Kerr spacetime and send the data to Earth. Light sales can theoretically be used to not only accelerate away from Earth, but also decelerate at the end of an interstellar journey (see Robert L Forward's work). The practicality of that is another matter.

hinkley 1y ago
There’s a really straightforward way to avoid a parabolic trajectory with a black hole. But data retrieval gets a bit difficult. More seriously, it floors me how often and consistently people forget that the accretion disk is essentially a partial accelerator and crossing or entering it will probably pulverize you to radioactive dust. Possibly before you could hit the event horizon.
- marcellus23 1y ago
  Not every black hole has an accretion disk, especially not isolated ones.
  - hinkley 1y ago
    So the question there is if it’s worth it for us to study a naked singularity. What would it teach us? And how do you get into orbit?
    - celticninja 1y ago
      Is it worth studying? Yes. Yes it most certainly is. Whatever we learn will be new.
    - marcellus23 1y ago
      Naked singularities lack event horizons, not accretion disks. By definition, black holes are not naked singularities.

hinkley 1y ago

There’s a really straightforward way to avoid a parabolic trajectory with a black hole. But data retrieval gets a bit difficult. More seriously, it floors me how often and consistently people forget that the accretion disk is essentially a partial accelerator and crossing or entering it will probably pulverize you to radioactive dust. Possibly before you could hit the event horizon.

marcellus23 1y ago
Not every black hole has an accretion disk, especially not isolated ones.
- hinkley 1y ago
  So the question there is if it’s worth it for us to study a naked singularity. What would it teach us? And how do you get into orbit?
  - celticninja 1y ago
    Is it worth studying? Yes. Yes it most certainly is. Whatever we learn will be new.
  - marcellus23 1y ago
    Naked singularities lack event horizons, not accretion disks. By definition, black holes are not naked singularities.