Re:Simulations suggest Planet Nine may have been a rogue
by pavel_lishin on Friday January 13, 2017 @09:58AM
(#13391243)
Oh sure, I'm not suggesting sending probes just to take a look around. But if we do positively identify another planet and its location, sending a probe there would be fascinating. If we could actually land it and do some materials science on a rogue planet, it would basically double our understanding of planetary formation.
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Re:Simulations suggest Planet Nine may have been a rogue
by willglynn on Friday January 13, 2017 @10:12AM
(#13391363)
The delta-V requirements for landing on an outer solar system body are… intense. New Horizons flew past Pluto at 14 km/s; in order to land, that relative speed would need to become zero. This concept likely requires new propulsion technology.
Agreed on being fascinating, though.
Re:Simulations suggest Planet Nine may have been a rogue
by T-hawk on Friday January 13, 2017 @04:57PM
(#13395076)
We've already landed on an outer solar system body, Saturn's moon Titan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huygens_(spacecraft)
Titan does have the advantage of a thick atmosphere to allow descent by parachute, and a large parent body to capture the spacecraft into orbit.
Re:Simulations suggest Planet Nine may have been a rogue
by deodorel on Friday January 13, 2017 @04:33PM
(#13394888)
Well if it is a planet 10x the size if earth it might have an atmosphere so we could aerobrake, no?
Re:Simulations suggest Planet Nine may have been a rogue
by mabbo on Friday January 13, 2017 @10:18AM
(#13391412)
It would indeed, but the costs wouldn't make it viable. Spend that same money funding every other effort planetary scientists want to do for years to come. They'll learn far more from those efforts than from the one very expensive probe.