Testing Black Holes with Interstellar Missions: I. Orbiting Probes

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of interstellar probes orbiting black holes to test General Relativity and study black hole properties, emphasizing the scientific value of such missions despite their challenges.

Contribution

It presents a preliminary analysis of how orbiting probes could be used to test the nature of black holes and validate aspects of General Relativity.

Findings

Orbiting probes could provide unique tests of black hole physics.

Deceleration capabilities are crucial for effective black hole studies.

Such missions could surpass current observational limitations.

Abstract

Recently, we showed that the possibility of an interstellar mission to the closest black hole, while highly speculative and extremely challenging, is not completely unrealistic within the next few decades. Since such a mission might last around a century and require significant financial and human resources, it is crucial to assess whether it can truly study black holes and test General Relativity at levels unattainable by observational facilities in the Solar System for many years. In this manuscript, we assume the capability to decelerate the spacecraft and present a preliminary study of how probes orbiting a black hole could test the nature of the compact object.