Interstellar dust studies with in-situ measurements from spacecraft and observations from Earth

Interstellar dust particles are key players in astrophysics because they contain most of the heavy elements, drive physical and chemical processes and reflect the evolution of the medium in which they are embedded. First discovered with Ulysses in the 1990s, interstellar dust is now observed by several spacecraft in the solar system, that is, in the heliosphere, the region around the Sun that is filled with the solar wind plasma shielding it from the ionized component of the interstellar medium gas. The existence of interstellar dust in the solar system opens an exciting opportunity to study these particles. A unique fleet of spacecraft explores the inner heliosphere for years to come. The existence of interstellar meteors has been speculated since the Ulysses discoveries and advanced technology of radar meteor observations now make it possible study them in more detail. An open question is also the interstellar dust flux into the heliosphere and onto Earth over time. In this presentation I will outline my plan to use recent advances in space and radar experiments to investigate the interstellar dust in the heliosphere and I will present research results to prepare for this project.