Project Hyperion, an international team of experts in architecture, engineering, anthropology, and urban planning, has launched a design competition for crewed interstellar travel. The Initiative for Interstellar Studies (i4is) hosted the event, with a prize purse of $10,000, to encourage innovative ideas for generation ships.
The top three winners were announced on July 23, 2025, after reviewing hundreds of submissions from teams worldwide. The winning entries impressed the jury with their depth of detail, coherence, and innovative designs. The competition aimed to create ships that could sustain human life for centuries while traveling to another habitable planet.
The challenges of interstellar travel are well-known, including long-duration transits, radiation exposure, and limited resources. Generation ships, which would accommodate crews for extended periods, require advanced life support systems, artificial gravity, and robust communication mechanisms.
Three teams took the top spots:
1st Place: Chrysalis
Chrysalis, a team from Italy, won with its modular cylindrical structure that minimizes collisions and structural stresses. The ship features a Direct Fusion Drive propulsion system, a habitat with coaxial rotary structures for simulated gravity, and an integrated life support system.
2nd Place: WFP Extreme
WFP Extreme, a team from Krakow, Poland, impressed the jury with its cultural and societal considerations, including concepts like clothing and spiritual spaces. Their concept features two counterrotating rings, hydroponic farms, and adaptive navigation systems.
3rd Place: Systema Stellare Proximum
Systema Stellare Proximum, a team from Canada, took the third spot with its innovative design inspired by biomimicry. The ship features an asteroid shell for radiation protection, pulsed plasma ion propulsion, and a modular habitat system.
These designs demonstrate the progress being made in generation ship concepts and highlight the challenges that need to be addressed for successful interstellar travel. As i4is continues to explore new ideas and technologies, it is essential to consider the societal, cultural, and technical aspects of long-term space habitation.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/project-reveals-mindblowing-designs-for-shipping-humans-to-the-stars