About Visual AstronomyCustom Telescope ModsTips & TricksNewsObservationsRSS FeedContact

Monday, January 11, 2010

Project Icarus, A Study of Interstellar Flight


Project Icarus, sponsored by the Tau Zero Foundation and the British Interplanetary Society, is a study of the possibility of interstellar flight. That is, can it be done? If so, how would one go about designing such a craft, and what are the implications of building such a craft?

Project Icarus aims to answer these questions, and to re-evaluate the findings of the previous Project Daedalus, which took place in 1973-1978. Have we come any closer to being able to realize an interstellar probe? From the Project Icarus blog:

"Project Icarus is a theoretical design study with the aim of designing a credible interstellar probe that will serve as a concept design for a potential unmanned mission that could be launched before the end of the 21st century. Icarus will utilise fusion based engine technology which would accelerate the spacecraft to approximately 10% to 20% the speed of light."

So check out the Project Icarus blog, and subscribe, as I've already done.

Clear skies!