# Interstellar

> Proposed space mission

**Wikidata**: [Q110370079](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q110370079)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_Probe_(spacecraft))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/interstellar-q110370079

## Summary  
Interstellar (also known as the Interstellar Probe) is a proposed NASA‑led space probe that will be launched on the Space Launch System (SLS) in 2036. The mission aims to conduct flybys of Jupiter in 2037 and the distant Kuiper‑belt object Quaoar, extending humanity’s reach toward interstellar space.

## Key Facts  
- **Mission type:** Space probe (unmanned robotic spacecraft) – instance of *space probe*【structured】  
- **Operators:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory【structured】  
- **Launch vehicle:** NASA’s super heavy‑lift Space Launch System (SLS)【structured】  
- **Planned launch year:** 2036 (launch vehicle event)【structured】  
- **Jupiter flyby:** Scheduled for 2037 at a distance of about **4,000** (unit unspecified)【structured】  
- **Quaoar flyby:** Planned for 2030 (flyby event)【structured】  
- **Wikipedia title:** *Interstellar Probe (spacecraft)*【structured】  
- **Image:** ![Interstellar Probe illustration](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Interstellar_Probe_(2020s).png)【structured】  
- **Language coverage:** English, Russian, Simple English Wikipedia pages【structured】  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is the Interstellar Probe?  
A: The Interstellar Probe is a proposed NASA mission that will send an unmanned spacecraft beyond the outer planets to study Jupiter, the Kuiper‑belt object Quaoar, and the interstellar environment.  

### Q: When is the Interstellar Probe scheduled to launch?  
A: The mission is slated for launch in **2036** aboard NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS).  

### Q: Which celestial bodies will the Interstellar Probe fly by?  
A: The probe will perform a close flyby of **Jupiter in 2037** and an earlier flyby of **Quaoar in 2030**, providing unprecedented data on both bodies and the surrounding space.  

## Why It Matters  
The Interstellar Probe represents a pivotal step in extending humanity’s scientific reach to the farthest reaches of the solar system and beyond. By leveraging the unprecedented lift capacity of the Space Launch System, the mission can carry a suite of instruments far farther than any prior probe, enabling direct measurements of the heliosphere’s outer boundary and the interstellar medium. The Jupiter flyby will deepen understanding of the giant planet’s magnetosphere, atmosphere, and moons, while the Quaoar encounter offers a rare glimpse of a distant Kuiper‑belt object, shedding light on the early solar system’s building blocks. Collectively, these observations will refine models of solar wind interaction, planetary formation, and the transition to interstellar space, informing future exploration strategies and potentially guiding the design of next‑generation deep‑space missions.

## Notable For  
- First NASA probe planned to launch on the **Space Launch System**, utilizing its heavy‑lift capability.  
- Intended **flyby of Quaoar**, one of the few missions targeting a Kuiper‑belt object beyond Pluto.  
- Designed to travel farther from the Sun than any previous spacecraft, approaching the interstellar medium.  
- Joint operation by **NASA and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory**, combining governmental and academic expertise.  

## Body  

### Overview  
The Interstellar Probe is a conceptual deep‑space mission aimed at exploring the outer solar system and the boundary with interstellar space. Classified as a *space probe*, it will be an unmanned robotic spacecraft without an Earth orbit, designed for long‑duration operations far from the Sun.

### Mission Architecture  
- **Operators:** NASA (lead) and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (instrument development and mission operations).  
- **Primary objectives:**  
  - Conduct a close flyby of **Jupiter** to study its magnetosphere, atmosphere, and moons.  
  - Perform a flyby of **Quaoar**, a distant Kuiper‑belt object, to gather compositional and geological data.  
  - Continue beyond the heliosphere to sample the interstellar medium.  

### Launch Vehicle  
- **Space Launch System (SLS):** NASA’s super heavy‑lift, expendable launch vehicle, selected for its ability to deliver the probe on a high‑energy trajectory required for deep‑space travel.  

### Trajectory and Flybys  
- **2036:** Launch aboard SLS.  
- **2037:** Jupiter flyby at an approach distance of roughly **4,000** (unit unspecified), enabling high‑resolution measurements of the planet’s environment.  
- **2030:** Planned Quaoar flyby (date precedes launch in source data, indicating an earlier mission concept or timeline adjustment).  

### Instruments and Capabilities  
While specific payload details are not provided in the source material, typical deep‑space probes carry instruments for plasma, magnetic field, particle, and imaging studies, which are expected for a mission targeting both planetary and interstellar science.

### Partnerships and Collaboration  
The mission exemplifies a collaboration between a federal agency (NASA) and a leading research university laboratory (Johns Hopkins APL), combining resources for spacecraft design, scientific instrumentation, and mission operations.

### Timeline Summary  
| Event | Year |
|-------|------|
| Launch (SLS) | 2036 |
| Jupiter flyby | 2037 |
| Quaoar flyby | 2030 (as listed) |

### Current Status  
The Interstellar Probe remains a **proposed** mission, listed on Wikipedia with three language editions and a Wikidata description of “Proposed space mission.” No launch has occurred to date, and the mission is still under study and development.