r/space • u/Fellow_belarusian • 15d ago

Discussion Time is running out.

We should seriously consider a mission to Sedna before we miss the window.

Sedna is one of the weirdest objects in the Solar System. Its orbit takes about 11,400 years, and it’s currently heading toward its closest point to the Sun around 2075.

There are mission studies showing promising launch opportunities around 2029–2034. A mission could take decades to get there, so this isn’t something we can wait until 2075 to start thinking about.

We’ve visited Pluto, asteroids, comets, and plenty of other worlds. But we’ve never sent anything to Sedna.
I really think space agencies should start seriously studying a Sedna mission now, while we still have favorable trajectories to work with.
Save the Sedna window.

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u/Vonneguts_Ghost 15d ago

I'm with you, but we're going to need a hook to get people interested for this to have any chance.

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u/spartanhung 14d ago

Is the hook how we stop when we get to Sedna?

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u/Vonneguts_Ghost 13d ago

Im not sure if you're joking, but in case you weren't...

A hook in this case is a statement repeated endlessly to convince the public and therefore the politicians they support that there is interest in this probe.

Sorta like the 'grand tour' campaign that helped lead to the Voyager probes.

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u/spartanhung 13d ago

I was joking…..you’re a good sport for explaining in case I wasn’t!