Science
Starcloud founders launch Fermi Explorer to target 80,000-year interstellar mission
The non-profit project aims to launch a 1-kilogram probe toward Alpha Centauri in 2029 using existing technology.
The short version
- The founders of satellite data center startup Starcloud have introduced Fermi Explorer, a non-profit initiative aimed at launching a tiny spacecraft toward Alpha Centauri in 2029.
- The mission relies on off-the-shelf technologies, electric propulsion, and a rocket rideshare to keep the estimated cost at $15 million.
- Rather than trying to achieve transit within a human lifespan, the probe is planned to operate actively for 12 years before coasting on an 80,000-year trajectory.
Key facts
- Starcloud founders Philip Johnston, Adi Oltean, and Ezra Feilden, along with program manager Garret Jameson, established the non-profit Fermi Explorer.[TechCrunch]
- The project targets a 2029 launch date for a 1-kilogram, 10-centimeter-square payload with an estimated budget of $15 million.[TechCrunch]
- The mission design uses rocket rideshares and low-power electric propulsion to place the probe on an 80,000-year trajectory toward Alpha Centauri.[TechCrunch]
- The spacecraft is planned to remain active for 12 years before entering a passive coasting phase, with the team seeking external vendors, donations, and scientific or artistic payloads.[TechCrunch]
What remains uncertain
- The project's launch timeline and budget rely on securing external partners, funding, and hardware vendors.[TechCrunch]