In a new paper published in the journal Iscience, astrophysicists at the University of Fudan have explored the potential for sending nanocrafts from Earth to black holes located 20-25 light years away. This mission aims to investigate the properties of strong gravitational fields and the fundamental aspects of physics.
Black holes represent the strongest gravitational fields known in the universe and serve as ideal laboratories for testing Einstein’s general theory of relativity under extreme conditions. Professor Bambi discusses the speculative nature and challenges of launching small spacecraft to the nearest black hole, yet emphasizes that it remains a plausible endeavor. Image credit: Cosimo Bambi, doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.113142.
“While we lack the necessary technology today, it may be feasible in 20 or 30 years,” stated Professor Cosimo Bambi, an astrophysicist and black hole specialist at the University of Fudan.
“Two significant challenges lie ahead: identifying a nearby black hole and developing a probe that can survive the journey.”
Currently, the closest recognized black hole to Earth is Gaia BH1, which was discovered in September 2022 and is located 1,560 light-years away.
However, it is anticipated that many undiscovered black holes may exist closer to Earth.
Simple estimations suggest that, despite significant uncertainties, the closest black hole could potentially be within only 20-25 light years.
“Our understanding of stellar evolution implies that black holes might be hidden just 20 to 25 light years from Earth, but detecting them is not straightforward,” noted Professor Bambi.
“Since black holes do not emit or reflect light, they are nearly invisible to telescopes.”
“Scientists typically rely on observing nearby stars and their interactions with light to identify and study these elusive objects.”
“New methods have been developed for detecting black holes, and I believe it is reasonable to expect the discovery of something nearby within the next decade.”
Once a target is located, the subsequent challenge will be reaching it.
Traditional spacecraft powered by chemical fuels lack the efficiency needed for such long journeys.
Professor Bambi suggests nanocraft as a promising solution—tiny probes consisting of microchips and light sails.
Lasers from Earth would propel the sails using photons, accelerating the craft to one-third the speed of light.
“At that speed, a craft could arrive at a black hole 20 to 25 light years away within about 70 years,” he explained.
“The data collected would then take roughly another 20 years to return to Earth, leading to a total mission duration of approximately 80-100 years.”
“When the craft nears a black hole, researchers could conduct experiments to answer some of the most pivotal questions in physics.”
“Does a black hole truly possess an event horizon? Can light escape the gravitational pull beyond that point?”
“Do the laws of physics alter in proximity to black holes?”
“Is Einstein’s general theory of relativity upheld in the universe’s most extreme conditions?”
“The laser system alone could cost 1 trillion euros, and currently, we lack the technology to fabricate nanocrafts,” Professor Bambi stated.
“Nevertheless, in 30 years, those costs might decrease, and technological advancements could align with these ambitious concepts.”
“While it may sound quite outlandish and resembles science fiction, past disbeliefs—like the detection of weak gravitational waves or imaging black hole shadows—have been proven wrong over time.”
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Cosimo Bambi. Interstellar missions to test astrophysical black holes. Iscience. Published online on August 7th, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2025.113142
Source: www.sci.news
