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arXiv · 2512.00492

Intercepting Interstellar Objects

Colin Snodgrass·Marina Galand·Arnaud Beth·Charlotte Goetz·Abbie Donaldson·Cyrielle Opitom
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Abstract

We describe how the ESA Comet Interceptor mission, which is due to launch in 2028/29 to a yet-to-be-discovered target, can provide a conceptual basis for a future mission to visit an Interstellar Object. Comet Interceptor will wait in space until a suitable long period comet is discovered, allowing rapid response to perform a fast flyby of an object that will be in the inner Solar System for only a few years; an enhanced version of this concept could realistically provide the first in situ investigation of a visitor from another star system.

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Colin Snodgrass, Marina Galand, Arnaud Beth, Charlotte Goetz, Abbie Donaldson, Cyrielle Opitom. 2025-11-29. Intercepting Interstellar Objects. https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.00492

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