Exploring the Galaxy using space probes

Abstract

AbstractThis paper investigates the possible use of space probes to explore the Milky Way, as a means both of finding life elsewhere in the Galaxy and as finding an answer to the Fermi paradox. Exploration of the Galaxy is simulated by first examining how long time it takes a given number of space probes to explore 40 000 stars in a box from −300 to 300 pc above the Galactic thin disc, as a function of Galactic radius. The Galaxy is then modelled to consist of ∼260 000 of these 40 000 stellar systems all located in a defined Galactic Habitable Zone and how long a time it takes to explore this zone is shown. The result is that with eight probes, each with eight subprobes, ∼4% of the Galaxy can be explored in 2.92×108 years. Increasing the number of probes to 200, still with eight subprobes each, reduces the exploration time to 1.52×107 years.