NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft has successfully demonstrated simple interstellar navigation by measuring the parallax of two nearby stars, Proxima Centauri and Wolf 359. This breakthrough technique could revolutionize navigation for future spacecraft exploring the outermost regions of the solar system and even provide navigation for the first truly interstellar missions. The team used observations from space and Earth to determine the location and heading of the spacecraft, marking a significant step forward in space exploration.
Forecast for 6 months: Expect increased investment in interstellar navigation research, with several space agencies and private companies announcing plans to develop and test new navigation techniques.
Forecast for 1 year: The first interstellar navigation mission is likely to be announced, with a target launch date within the next two years. This mission will aim to test the new navigation techniques in a real-world setting.
Forecast for 5 years: The first interstellar spacecraft is expected to be launched, marking a major milestone in space exploration. This spacecraft will use the new navigation techniques developed by the New Horizons team to travel to nearby star systems.
Forecast for 10 years: The first human mission to another star system is likely to be announced, with a target launch date within the next decade. This mission will rely on the advanced navigation techniques developed by the New Horizons team and will mark a major step forward in human space exploration.
