A team of engineers has designed a hypothetical spacecraft called Chrysalis that could carry up to 2,400 people on a one-way trip to the nearest star system, Alpha Centauri. The 36-mile-long vessel is designed to house several generations of passengers and provide them with a sustainable environment for centuries.
Chrysalis would be constructed in 20-25 years and maintain artificial gravity through constant rotation. The ship’s design includes multiple layers, each providing essential services such as food production, communal spaces, homes, and industries. A layer closest to the core hosts shuttles that could bring passengers to Proxima Centauri b, an Earth-size exoplanet thought to be potentially habitable.
The ship’s population would be capped at 1,500 people to ensure sustainability, with births planned to maintain a stable population. Governance would be handled by artificial intelligence, ensuring the social system’s resilience and knowledge transfer between generations.
While the technology required for such a project is still largely theoretical, Chrysalis offers valuable insights into future space design and could help engineers improve upcoming designs. The project won first place in the Project Hyperion Design Competition, with the winning team awarded $5,000 USD.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/proposed-spacecraft-could-carry-up-to-2-400-people-on-a-one-way-trip-to-the-nearest-star-system-alpha-centauri