Scientists propose sending a small spacecraft into a black hole to collect data

Cosimo Bambi has outlined a theoretical plan for gram-scale, light‑propelled nanocraft to approach a nearby black hole and beam measurements back to Earth before being lost. The proposal faces major obstacles, including a 100‑year‑plus timeline, incomplete technology, and no currently known black hole within the roughly 20–25 light‑year range needed.

Scientists are exploring a far‑future concept to send tiny, light‑propelled spacecraft into black holes to record measurements and transmit them back to Earth before the craft is swallowed. The idea, described by Cosimo Bambi in a paper published in iScience, aims to probe fundamental questions about how general relativity and black hole horizons behave in extreme conditions. The proposed probes would be gram‑scale nanocraft, roughly the size of a paperclip, accelerated by light sails to a fraction of the speed of light. Developing the necessary technology and finding a suitably close black hole are cited as major challenges, and Bambi notes the concept could take decades to mature. Key facts: - Cosimo Bambi published a theoretical plan in iScience for gram‑scale nanocraft to approach a black hole and transmit measurements back to Earth before being lost. - The nanocraft concept relies on light‑sail propulsion and designs similar to ideas developed for Breakthrough Initiatives' Starshot, as described by other researchers. - Practical obstacles include immature spacecraft technology, the risk of single‑point failures on century‑scale missions, and substantial cost and logistical challenges. - The mission concept would require a black hole roughly 20–25 light‑years from Earth, while the closest observed black hole today is about 1,560 light‑years away. - Upcoming and new observatories, such as the Vera Rubin Observatory and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, could help identify nearer black holes in coming years through multiwavelength surveys. Summary: If pursued, the proposal would offer a way to collect direct measurements near a black hole and test theoretical ideas about extreme gravity. Significant gaps remain in technology, target availability, and timescale, and those factors leave the project's future undetermined at this time.