NASA and Stephen Hawking Working Together To Create A Nano-Starship

 

By Anthony Hines

 

Back in April of this year, Stephen Hawking announced the Breakthrough Starshot project. He was joined by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology in creating this starship that would be able to travel at one fifth the the speed of light. However, they are unsure if they would be able to have the starship survive the 20 year trip to Alpha Centauri.

 

But that is where Nasa comes in. The biggest issue that currently comes from attempting this is high-energy radiation that is in space, from what researchers have discovered. But Nasa has come up with multiple solutions that can save this plan:

1. Adjust the flight path to avoid the high-energy radiation. The problem with this one is adding years to the already 20, may end up with the same results.

2. Add shielding to the electronics on the ship. But with adding extra shielding, throws off weight and size, slowing down the ship.

3. The final idea would to have a self-healing silicon chip. Which has no issues like the 2 previous options.

 

Stephen Hawking states, “The limit that confronts us now is the great void between us and the stars, but now we can transcend it. With light beams, light sails and the lightest spacecraft ever built, we can launch a mission to Alpha Centauri within a generation”. We are moving a fast pace to keep up with the cosmos and this will be humanity’s biggest leap ever.