7 new planets were discovered…but how can we get there?

Seven new planets that orbit a single dwarf star less than 40 light-years away were discovered by researchers at the University of Liege in Belgium.

The planets are believed to be similar to Earth in that they are solid, rocky and possibly icy; three of the planets lie in the habitable zone where water and life may exist.

“One of the most interesting aspects of these new planets is that we may be able to observe whether their atmospheres exhibit some of the key signs of life,” said Walter Thompson, lecturer of physics. “Unlike many of the other thousands of exoplanets that have been discovered so far, this system orbits a very small, dim star.”

Scientists also believe that this newly discovered solar system means that more Earth-sized planets exist with the potential to support life.

“The James Webb Space telescope (set to launch next year) should be able to determine if any of these planets show atmospheric signs of life. I am hopeful, but skeptical, that these new worlds harbor life,” Thompson said.

Although the University of Liege’s research team is almost positive that some of these planets can support life, they also conceded that it can never be certain without going there.

So, how are we going to get there?

LightSail is a project developed by The Planetary Society that sends a small spacecraft into orbit that possesses large, energy-reflecting sails. The solar sail spacecraft reflects light energy straight from the sun, known as photons, off of the sail in order to transfer its momentum and use it to move the sails at high speeds in outer space.

The sails can then use the energy captured from the sun to propel satellites farther into space than they would be able to go without the boost from the sails. The sails help to propel the spacecraft similar to the way the sails on a sailboat propel it forward.

A major benefit of using solar sails is that it is a cheaper option relative to other exploration options and they can be used numerous times because they require such few moving parts for production and maintenance.

Using the energy from the sun, solar sail crafts could have the potential to carry satellites to new planets to capture pictures and videos.

Solar sail technology is currently not capable of carrying spacecrafts large enough to support humans, so this is currently not an option for astronauts to physically go there.

One potential problem with solar sails is that the energy from sunlight will not be as focused once the spacecraft moves farther away from it, and it is unclear just how far solar sails would be able to carry it.

Ion propulsion, another possible solution to deep space travel, is currently thought of as the best method for deep space travel for humans by NASA. Ion engines create thrust by accelerating ions with electricity and can carry a spacecraft at speeds of up to 90,000 miles per hour.

NASA now believes that ion engines may be able to last long enough to take a spacecraft extremely deep into space. NASA’s Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (N.E.X.T.) project successfully powered an ion engine for more than 5 ½ years, which is the longest duration time ever for a space propulsion system.

Ion engines are also more cost effective than conventional rockets because they can move a spacecraft using less than a tenth of the fuel that it takes to move a rocket.

Even modern ion technology, however, is not capable of going to another solar system anytime soon.

“Ion drives are only capable of very low impulses and would take millions or billions of years to reach another solar system,” said David Garrison, associate professor of physics. “They aren’t fast enough for manned travel even in low earth orbit. V.A.S.I.M.R. (Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket) works for travel to places like Mars, but travel beyond our solar system would take tens of thousands of years.

NASA is still working on perfecting N.E.X.T. and their goal right now is to use it for a mission to Mars, so their astronauts can stay long enough to get a lot of information and footage.

There are many different ideas that could take satellites farther into space than before. Traveling to another solar system, however, is still a long shot.

“Lightsails and black holes are impossible to engineer into propulsion devices with modern technology,” Garrison said. “Any practical travel to another solar system within a human lifetime would require new physics beyond what we currently know.”

Also published on Medium.