Envato Elements
Slava G. Turyshev suggests that solar sails and nuclear electric propulsion are possible solutions and for Humanity to be able to use the Sun as a telescope and observe distant objects with a resolution never before achieved.
A new one in pre-publication suggests that humanity could achieve one of the most extraordinary views of the Solar System within three decades, with the Sun itself transforming into a gigantic natural telescope.
The concept is based on gravitational lens, a phenomenon predicted by Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Massive objects like stars and galaxies bend spacetime, warping and magnifying light coming from distant sources behind them. Astronomers routinely observe this effect in deep space, where galaxy clusters act as powerful cosmic lenses.
But scientists have long wondered: What if we could deliberately position a spacecraft to use our own star as a lens?
The idea, known as Solar Gravitational Lensing (LGS), was first proposed in 1979 by physicist Von Russel Eshleman. Because the Sun’s gravity bends light along a semi-infinite focal line rather than a single focal point, a spacecraft positioned at at least 650 astronomical units (AU) of the Sun could use the magnification effect to image distant objects with unprecedented resolution.
A mission of this type could, in theory, capture detailed images of the surface of an exoplanet, far surpassing the capabilities of any current or planned telescope.
Reaching the required distance presents formidable challenges. For comparison, Voyager 1, the most distant man-made object, is at about 170 AU do Sol after almost 50 years of travel.
The new paper, available on arXiv, explores how to drastically reduce this time. The study author, Slava G. Turyshevfrom NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, evaluates propulsion systems capable of taking a spacecraft to 650–900 AU in less than 30 years.
Traditional chemical rockets, even with gravitational assistance, are very slow. Instead, Turyshev highlights two promising options: solar sails and nuclear electric propulsion (NEP).
Solar sails, which harness sunlight for propulsion, could reach 650 AU over a period of approximately 25 to 40 years if the spacecraft makes a daring approach to the Sun — at a distance of 0.04–0.08 AU — to gain speed. However, solar sails provide limited onboard power, restricting the size of the payload, explains .
Nuclear electric propulsion, potentially combined with nuclear thermal propulsion, could transport heavier instruments and reach the desired distance in less than 20 years. The remaining propellant could also help adjust the spacecraft’s position along the focal line. However, both technologies are still in the early stages of development.
According to Turyshev, launching a mission between 2035 and 2040 would depend on demonstrating the necessary propulsion technologies by the early 2030s.
Although still theoretical, the proposal represents a bold step towards transforming the Sun into the most powerful telescope ever used.
