Scientists and experts have proposed innovative designs for “generation ships” that could support up to 1,500 people on a 250-year journey to a habitable planet. The Project Hyperion design competition aimed to develop plans using current technologies or those expected in the near future.
The winner, Chrysalis, is a 58km cigar-shaped craft with concentric cylinders dedicated to various functions, including 3D-printed living quarters and farms mimicking Earth environments. A vegetarian diet would be necessary due to limited animal resources. The design also addresses psychological resilience through isolated Antarctic bases and redefines family structures based on the starship community.
The second-place design, Hyperion, resembles a space station from 2001: A Space Odyssey and includes features like an Earth-like magnetic field for successful pregnancy in deep space. Loose-fitting clothes with sealable pockets were designed to prevent items from falling out in low gravity. Three pairs of turtles would be included for their longevity.
The third-place design, Systema Stellare Proximum, is modelled after a jellyfish and incorporates a hollowed-out asteroid shield against impacts. It envisions a society guided by non-human collective intelligence and human council, with potential emergence of new religions.
Experts say the competition aimed to explore humanity’s ability to travel to stars and live in a resource-constrained environment. The outcomes were “beyond expectations,” according to Dr. Andreas Hein, executive director of the Initiative for Interstellar Studies.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/aug/06/spaceships-design-stars-craft-interstellar-travel-project-hyperion