The article introduces Fermi Explorer, a non-profit mission spearheaded by the founders of Starcloud, a startup planning to operate GPUs in orbit. Fermi Explorer aims to launch a tiny spacecraft on an 80,000-year journey to Alpha Centauri, positioning it as the first human-built object explicitly aimed at another star and the sixth to leave the solar system. The mission, costing approximately $15 million and slated for launch in 2029, seeks partners, donations, and advice to build a vehicle with a 10 cm square payload weighing 1 kilogram, utilizing proven space technologies.
Fermi Explorer distinguishes itself from previous interstellar exploration plans by leveraging existing technology rather than pursuing novel, high-cost propulsion methods. The founders cite the collapse of Breakthrough Starshot, a multi-billion-dollar laser-based propulsion project, as a reason for adopting a more pragmatic approach. The spacecraft will be launched via a rocket rideshare and employ electric propulsion to achieve a trajectory toward Alpha Centauri, with an operational phase of about 12 years before entering a long-term coast phase. The mission’s designers anticipate that the spacecraft, designed to endure the interstellar radiation environment for at least 50,000 years, may eventually be intercepted by a future human civilization. Read the full article here.