Imagine a world where the ultimate punishment for the worst of humanity is a one-way ticket to the Sun. Sounds like the plot of a sci-fi thriller, right? But here’s where it gets controversial: an astronomer has seriously explored this idea, and the science behind it is both mind-boggling and surprisingly complex. While we at Futurism don’t endorse extreme forms of punishment, we can’t help but be fascinated by the physics—and the sheer audacity—of this proposal.
Michael J.I. Brown, an associate professor of astronomy at Monash University, breaks down the concept in a way that’s equal parts entertaining and enlightening. At first glance, launching someone into the Sun might seem straightforward—just point a rocket and hit the gas, right? And this is the part most people miss: Earth’s gravity and orbital motion make this far more challenging than it appears. To escape our planet’s gravitational pull, the rocket would need to travel at a staggering 11 kilometers per second (over 25,000 miles per hour). Even if we achieve that, Earth’s orbit around the Sun—at about 30 kilometers per second—would send the spacecraft careening off course, missing the Sun by nearly 100 million kilometers.
Brown explains that the rocket’s initial trajectory would actually result in an elliptical orbit around the Sun, not a direct collision. To counteract this, the rocket would need to break through low Earth orbit at an astonishing 32 kilometers per second, moving in the opposite direction of Earth’s orbit. Once free from Earth’s grasp, the Sun’s gravity would take over, pulling the rocket—and its unfortunate passenger—toward a fiery demise. But here’s the kicker: this journey would take about 10 weeks, giving the villain ample time to reflect on their actions before meeting their end.
Here’s where it gets even more intriguing: our current technology falls far short of this requirement. NASA’s New Horizons probe, the fastest spacecraft ever launched, reached only 16.26 kilometers per second—half the speed needed. So, is this idea doomed to remain in the realm of science fiction? Not necessarily. Brown suggests using planetary flybys, like a gravity assist from Jupiter, to boost the rocket’s speed. This technique, used by New Horizons to shorten its journey to Pluto, could theoretically reshape the rocket’s orbit with each planetary encounter, gradually steering it toward the Sun.
But let’s pause for a moment. Is this even ethical, or just a fantastical thought experiment? While the idea sparks debate, it also raises questions about the limits of human ingenuity and the boundaries of justice. Could such a method ever be justified, or is it purely a testament to our fascination with extreme solutions? We’ll leave that for you to decide in the comments.
For now, this proposal remains a fascinating blend of physics, ethics, and imagination. And if you’re curious about humans getting close to the Sun, check out this astonishing photo of a man seemingly skydiving through its flames—a reminder that reality can be just as jaw-dropping as fiction. (https://futurism.com/space/photo-man-jumping-through-sun)