A group of scientists and entrepreneurs formed a coalition whose aim is to send a small spacecraft to travel interstellar . In their view, it is possible that the solar sail-powered vehicle came to Alpha Centauri in about 20 years. To do this he would have to move at a speed of 20% of the speed of light.
Group Breakthrough Starshot assumes that using a concentrated laser beam fired from the Earth could accelerate a vehicle the size of a mobile phone, equipped with a sail and electronics. With this solution, the vehicle could, in their opinion, to leave the solar system in just three days. It is worth reminding that the probe New Horizon needed to reach Pluto until 9 years, and Voyagerowi-1 to leave the solar system, it took approx. 35 years.
The initial budget Breakthrough Starshot amounts to $ 100 million, and it has to provide only research and development and construction of the vehicle. The aim of the program is the demonstration that humanity can send a flotilla of small vehicles in interstellar journey. It is an ambitious project, but we do not know any physical barriers that prevent its implementation – says Avi Loeb, a theoretical physicist at Harvard University who advises Breakthrough Prize Foundation. This organization, which is funded by, among others, by the Russian billionaire Yuri Milner. The success of the project depends only on us – adds Loeb.
The vehicle Breakthrough Starshot to leave Earth aboard a conventional rocket. In orbit they will be released from the hold and develop sails. For sending vehicles to travel reply has a team of powerful lasers that every 1-2 days will take on the goal of one vehicle and “propel” go in the direction of Alpha Centauri.
Project Breakthrough Starshot are interested, next Milner, also Mark Zuckerberg or Stephen Hawking. At the head of project status Pete Worden, a retired director of the Ames Research Center. Worden said that he contacted NASA, the European Space Agency and other similar organizations that want to encourage you to help, perhaps even to the constant cooperation based on partnership.
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