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Long range observations in the field of astronomy have opened up ourunderstanding of the Solar System, the Galaxy and the wider Universe. In thispaper we discuss the idea of direct in-situ reconnaissance of nearby stellarsystems, using robotic probes. In particular, we consider what additionalknowledge can be learned that can only be obtained by such close encounters.This may include calibration of existing measurements, detailed observations ofstellar winds, astrometry measurements of stellar parallax, refinement of ourunderstanding of physics through the use of long baseline interferometers. Inaddition, getting close to an exoplanet will enable detailed knowledge ofplanetary interiors, surface processes, geological evolution, atmosphericcomposition and climate, internal seismology, detailed surface morphology andeven the speculative possibility of detecting the presence of microbial life,detailed palaeontology or even indigenous life-forms. We argue thatastronomical remote sensing should be pursued in parallel with in-situreconnaissance missions by robotic probes, so that both can enhance thediscoveries and performance of the other. This work is in support of ProjectStarshot; an effort to send a Gram-scale probe towards another star at 0.2cwithin the next two decades, and return images and other data to the Earth.Presented at the 47th IAA Symposium on Future Space Astronomy and Solar SystemScience Missions. Session on Space Agency Strategies and Plans.

Interstellar Probes: The Benefits to Astronomy & Astrophysics