A team of scientists has proposed a bold new plan for humanity’s first interstellar journey. The Chrysalis Project, an award-winning design for a hypothetical starship, aims to carry up to 2,400 people to Alpha Centauri, our closest stellar neighbor.
The ultimate goal is to reach and settle on the potentially habitable exoplanet Proxima Centauri b. However, due to the immense distance, the one-way trip would reportedly take around 400 years. This means that many passengers would live their entire lives aboard the spacecraft without ever knowing what life on Earth is like.
To address this challenge, the Chrysalis Project proposes a massive 36-mile-long cigar-shaped starship with all facilities. The spacecraft would be divided into different layers, each with its own purpose. It would have spaces for farms, gardens, homes, warehouses, and other shared facilities, powered by nuclear fusion reactors.
To maintain a sustainable population of around 1,500 people during the voyage, births would be carefully planned. The ship’s inhabitants would also collaborate with advanced artificial intelligence to govern this complex society.
While the Chrysalis Project is still in its conceptual phase, it serves as an exciting blueprint for shaping a future that we can only dream of right now. By pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, projects like this inspire us to explore new possibilities and strive for innovation.
Source: https://interestingengineering.com/space/engineers-propose-multi-generational-spacecraft