The interstellar medium is a matter that exists in the space between solar systems. With world attention now focusing on future travels on a new frontier, new technology for crossing space is being developed.
Although manned space exploration to the vastness of outer space beyond our own solar system is still beyond the capability of man, steps in exploring these unknown expanses have already begun.
Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory located in Pasadena, California have begun to draw up plans to map the uncharted regions of deep space.
At Keck Institute of Space Studies, two workshops were conducted where 30 specialists worked on answering the pressing questions about the structure, composition and energy flow in the cosmic vastness. With this work, it draws the most detailed picture of using present day technology for a possible interstellar probe.
Scientists have begun conceptualizing some of the requirements of an interstellar probe. The resulting probe concept was a rational first step towards an attempt to reach another star as was reported in Scitech Daily.
This new concept probe will be launched as a payload on the Space Launch System and it will take just 10 years to reach interstellar space as compared to the first probe Voyager 1 which took 36 years to reach the boundary of interstellar space.
Another concept probe is being explored. This time, the probe is a miniscule microchip that will be shot into space by using lasers as propulsion and will be used to explore interstellar space.
Starchips, as they are being called, are miniaturized probes composed of tiny chips weighing about the same as a paperclip. The plan is to blast many of these chips simultaneously by utilizing the power of 100-gigawatt lasers as reported in Space.
We are still at the earliest point in our quest for space travel. The technology to travel to other star systems is still under development. Technology for human to travel space is in its infancy. With plans for a manned mission to Mars, the science of exploration is picking up pace with technologies on human life support in space.
