Russian Billionaire and businessman Yury Milner has teamed up with renowned physicist Stephan Hawking and Facebook Mogul Mark Zuckerberg to launch the
Breakthrough Starshot Project
Which plans to send off the 1st probes to our distant neighbor Alpha Centauri within the next decade.
These probes are unlike any other created as they are considered Nano Probes which consist of a very tiny computerized robot weighing only 1gram. On top of being small, these Nano crafts can theoretically reach relativistic speeds, with a top velocity nearing 1/5 the speed of light. In order to accelerate this Nano probes, each one is equipped with a solar sail and will have strong earth stationed laser arrays to propel it through space.
As you may know, Alpha Centauri is located some 4light years from earth. With our current propulsion systems, our space crafts would take nearly 30,000 years to reach our destination. But with the Nano probes travelling at such a high speed, this voyage could be completed within 20years, and transmit data and pictures back to earth in another 4years. Basically saying that within 30years, scientists could have real data and pictures of our closest neighboring solar system.
The project is expected to initially cost a whopping $100 million. In order to get the Nano space ships, many advances in our current technology must be completed first. This money would be used to further research and develop Nano manufacturing, and also increasing the efficiency and power of lasers. But overall, the system to launch these Nano probes is expected to cost in excess $10 billion which would include; high powered laser arrays, Nano manufactured probes, specialized Nano sensors and lasers, while also needing scientists to monitor these probes for nearly 30years.
Depending on which source you read regarding this project, there will be big differences in opinions and time lines. Some scientist are on board and fully optimistic, but others are doubtful that our technology could produce a successful project within any reasonable time frame. There are many challenges this project will face, but the main reason for pessimism is
Space dust
Small little particles zip through space at tremendous speeds. These tiny particles, normally called space dust, aren’t an issue for our current space ships because of the size and weight differences. But when you deal with sizes on the Nano scale, these particles pose a massive threat to the probes. If a Nano probe, travelling 20% light-speed, collided with one of these space dust particles, it would essentially obliterate the probe.
Before any realistic plan is put in place, a space dust reflection mechanism needs to be implemented. This is currently being researched in many ways, interestingly, some came up with an Idea to magnetize the probe while producing a magnetic field that would charge and repel these particles before collision, but there isn't a fail proof plan yet.
There are many challenges to space travel, especially over long distances. Our current technology limits us to using Non-Manned ways to explore distant regions, and our probes have only been able to search out our immediate solar system. The Breakthrough StarShot project could be our first glimpse at another solar system, while providing the systems necessary to explore other areas within our galaxy.
As a person who loves space exploration and the universe, I can definitely say I am optimistic and would love to see this project succeed. It would be amazing to see close up pictures of Alpha Centauri within my lifetime while also knowing other systems can also be reached.
Thank you for reading and up voting. Comments are always welcomed.
Pictures sourced:
Space: www.newscientist.com
Explosion: www.monkeyinthecage.com
Information collected about this post came from these sources.
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/100-million-for-probes-to-alpha-centauri-yes-really/
http://www.iflscience.com/space/stephen-hawking-reveals-plan-send-spacecraft-alpha-centauri-20-years/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2102267-interstellar-probes-will-be-eroded-on-the-way-to-alpha-centauri/
http://www.sciencealert.com/our-mission-to-alpha-centauri-could-be-jeopardised-by-dust-collisions