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Alpha centauri3/26/2023 ![]() ![]() The new studies focus on a stronger, more durable solar sail. But, in practice, the sail needs to survive the long journey to Alpha Centauri. In theory, a solar sail spacecraft should work for star travel. Artist’s concept of a previous solar sail design. It aimed for a speed of 20% of the speed of light, with the goal of reaching the Alpha Centauri system – and, presumably, its newly discovered planets Proxima b and Proxima c – within 20 years.īut is it possible? Researchers have been trying to answer that question. He founded a new and ambitious initiative called Breakthrough Starshot, with the intention to pour $100 million into proof-of-concept studies for an entirely new technology for star travel. The concept stems from an announcement in April 2016, by Russian high-tech billionaire Yuri Milner. Both papers can be found in ACS Publications, published on Decemand January 11, 2022, respectively. The researchers have published two new peer-reviewed papers outlining the concept. If it works, it could reach Alpha Centauri in as little as 20 years. ![]() Their new concept uses a new, more durable solar sail. But in February 2022, researchers at Penn Engineering and the Breakthrough Starshot initiative said they’re working on a new method of traveling to the nearest star system. Ordinary rockets won’t work for star travel. How soon could we reach Alpha Centauri? Could we reach any of the nearest stars, in a reasonable amount of time? A new and more durable solar sail spacecraft might be part of the answer. It’s the nearest star system to our sun at 4.3 light-years away. But, if we were to plan a trip, Alpha Centauri is an obvious target. And that’s why NASA has no plans at present to send a spacecraft to any of the several thousand known planets beyond our solar system. ![]() Image via Masumi Shibata/ courtesy of Breakthrough Initiatives/ Penn Engineering. The shape and composition of the new solar sail were recently redesigned, so the sail won’t melt or tear during the acceleration phase. The craft uses an Earth-based laser array to get up enough speed to travel to the next-nearest star. Artist’s conception of a starship – called the Starshot Lightsail – accelerating away from Earth. ![]()
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