What's the name of the project funded by a russian billionaire to accelerate probes into space using lasers? 
https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/starchips-not-starships-proposed-for-trips-to-alpha-centauri/
StarChips, Not Starships, Proposed for Trips to Alpha Centauri
2016-04-12
None
<div><div>
	<main>
	
<article>
	
<a href="https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/starchips-not-starships-proposed-for-trips-to-alpha-centauri/">
	</a>	
	<div>
	<p>Russian billionaire Yuri Milner, renowned physicists Stephen Hawking and Freeman Dyson, and former NASA Ames Center Director Pete Worden were among the members of a high profile group that announced a “Breakthrough Starshot” initiative today, the 55th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s historic flight into space.  Milner, who was named after Gagarin, is devoting $100 million of his fortune for phase one of the effort to send hundreds or thousands of postage stamp sized spacecraft to Alpha Centauri, the closest star, 4.37 light years away.</p>
<p>Speaking at the One World Observatory in New York City, Milner described advances in microfabrication, nanotechnology and photonics that have or will make it possible to send tiny spacecraft (nanocraft) on such a journey using laser-propelled sails (lightsails) for propulsion.  Experiments with solar sails have already taken place, but the energy of our Sun is insufficient to send a spacecraft to such a distance.  Instead, an array of lasers on Earth will provide the force to push the “StarChips” along at a very high velocity — 20 percent of the speed of light. </p>
<p>A spacecraft could reach Pluto in three days at that velocity, compared to the 9.5 years required for the New Horizons mission using chemical propulsion.   For the StarChips, the journey to Alpha Centauri would take 20 years instead of 30,000 years.     </p>
<p>Milner envisions launches of the spacecraft, perhaps one a day, will begin in 15-20 years, though he stressed that the time frames are notional. The idea is that by launching hundreds or thousands of the StarChips, the overall mission of sending spacecraft to fly past planets orbiting another star can be achieved even if many lose their way or are damaged by collisions with interstellar dust, for example.</p>
<p>Freeman Dyson, who has done pioneering theoretical work in interstellar travel, participated in the panel to offer a “dissenting” view that there will be many interesting objects along the way and the focus should not be just on getting to Alpha Centauri.  He believes that life is most likely to be found not on planets, but small bodies like comets and asteroids.  The space between here and Alpha Centauri is not a void, he said, but filled with “trillions” of asteroids and comets that will underpin a sustainable program of exploration rather than focusing on just a single destination.</p>
<p>The project is one of a series sponsored by Breakthrough Initiatives, which describes itself as a program of scientific and technological exploration probing the big questions of life in the universe.</p>
<p>Milner, Hawking and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerman form the Board of the Starshot program.  Milner described it as a research and engineering program to demonstrate proof of concept, to be followed by a demonstration phase and then the actual launches.  Worden will lead the program.</p>
<p>Worden said he has spoken with NASA leaders and they are “eager” to support the idea.  He pointed out that much of the work on nanocraft and lightsails that Milner described was funded through the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program.</p>
<p>The $100 million will fund research grants and support relevant scientific and engineering research and development.   All the research will be in the public domain and the activity is envisioned as a global effort.  </p>
	<p>
	</p><h5>Last Updated: Apr 13, 2016 12:10 am ET</h5>
	<p></p>
	</div>
	
</article>
	</main>	
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 StarChips, Not Starships, Proposed for Trips to Alpha Centauri

 StarChips, Not Starships, Proposed for Trips to Alpha Centauri

 By Marcia Smith | Posted: April 12, 2016 12:00 am ET | Last Updated: April 13, 2016 12:10 am ET

 Russian billionaire Yuri Milner, renowned physicists Stephen Hawking and Freeman Dyson, and former NASA Ames Center Director Pete Worden were among the members of a high profile group that announced a “Breakthrough Starshot” initiative today, the 55th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s historic flight into space. Milner, who was named after Gagarin, is devoting $100 million of his fortune for phase one of the effort to send hundreds or thousands of postage stamp sized spacecraft to Alpha Centauri, the closest star, 4.37 light years away.

 Speaking at the One World Observatory in New York City, Milner described advances in microfabrication, nanotechnology and photonics that have or will make it possible to send tiny spacecraft (nanocraft) on such a journey using laser-propelled sails (lightsails) for propulsion. Experiments with solar sails have already taken place, but the energy of our Sun is insufficient to send a spacecraft to such a distance. Instead, an array of lasers on Earth will provide the force to push the “StarChips” along at a very high velocity — 20 percent of the speed of light.

 A spacecraft could reach Pluto in three days at that velocity, compared to the 9.5 years required for the New Horizons mission using chemical propulsion. For the StarChips, the journey to Alpha Centauri would take 20 years instead of 30,000 years.

 Milner envisions launches of the spacecraft, perhaps one a day, will begin in 15-20 years, though he stressed that the time frames are notional. The idea is that by launching hundreds or thousands of the StarChips, the overall mission of sending spacecraft to fly past planets orbiting another star can be achieved even if many lose their way or are damaged by collisions with interstellar dust, for example.

 Freeman Dyson, who has done pioneering theoretical work in interstellar travel, participated in the panel to offer a “dissenting” view that there will be many interesting objects along the way and the focus should not be just on getting to Alpha Centauri. He believes that life is most likely to be found not on planets, but small bodies like comets and asteroids. The space between here and Alpha Centauri is not a void, he said, but filled with “trillions” of asteroids and comets that will underpin a sustainable program of exploration rather than focusing on just a single destination.

 The project is one of a series sponsored by Breakthrough Initiatives, which describes itself as a program of scientific and technological exploration probing the big questions of life in the universe.

 Milner, Hawking and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerman form the Board of the Starshot program. Milner described it as a research and engineering program to demonstrate proof of concept, to be followed by a demonstration phase and then the actual launches. Worden will lead the program.

 Worden said he has spoken with NASA leaders and they are “eager” to support the idea. He pointed out that much of the work on nanocraft and lightsails that Milner described was funded through the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program.

 The $100 million will fund research grants and support relevant scientific and engineering research and development. All the research will be in the public domain and the activity is envisioned as a global effort.

 Last Updated: Apr 13, 2016 12:10 am ET

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Russian billionaire Yuri Milner, renowned physicists Stephen Hawking and Freeman Dyson, and former NASA Ames Center Director Pete Worden were among the members of a high profile group that announced a “Breakthrough Starshot” initiative today, the 55th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s historic flight into space.  Milner, who was named after Gagarin, is devoting $100 million of his fortune for phase one of the effort to send hundreds or thousands of postage stamp sized spacecraft to Alpha Centauri, the closest star, 4.37 light years away.
Speaking at the One World Observatory in New York City, Milner described advances in microfabrication, nanotechnology and photonics that have or will make it possible to send tiny spacecraft (nanocraft) on such a journey using laser-propelled sails (lightsails) for propulsion.  Experiments with solar sails have already taken place, but the energy of our Sun is insufficient to send a spacecraft to such a distance.  Instead, an array of lasers on Earth will provide the force to push the “StarChips” along at a very high velocity — 20 percent of the speed of light. 
A spacecraft could reach Pluto in three days at that velocity, compared to the 9.5 years required for the New Horizons mission using chemical propulsion.   For the StarChips, the journey to Alpha Centauri would take 20 years instead of 30,000 years.     
Milner envisions launches of the spacecraft, perhaps one a day, will begin in 15-20 years, though he stressed that the time frames are notional. The idea is that by launching hundreds or thousands of the StarChips, the overall mission of sending spacecraft to fly past planets orbiting another star can be achieved even if many lose their way or are damaged by collisions with interstellar dust, for example.
Freeman Dyson, who has done pioneering theoretical work in interstellar travel, participated in the panel to offer a “dissenting” view that there will be many interesting objects along the way and the focus should not be just on getting to Alpha Centauri.  He believes that life is most likely to be found not on planets, but small bodies like comets and asteroids.  The space between here and Alpha Centauri is not a void, he said, but filled with “trillions” of asteroids and comets that will underpin a sustainable program of exploration rather than focusing on just a single destination.
The project is one of a series sponsored by Breakthrough Initiatives, which describes itself as a program of scientific and technological exploration probing the big questions of life in the universe.
Milner, Hawking and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerman form the Board of the Starshot program.  Milner described it as a research and engineering program to demonstrate proof of concept, to be followed by a demonstration phase and then the actual launches.  Worden will lead the program.
Worden said he has spoken with NASA leaders and they are “eager” to support the idea.  He pointed out that much of the work on nanocraft and lightsails that Milner described was funded through the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program.
The $100 million will fund research grants and support relevant scientific and engineering research and development.   All the research will be in the public domain and the activity is envisioned as a global effort.  
	
	 Last Updated: Apr 13, 2016 12:10 am ET
StarChips, Not Starships, Proposed for Trips to Alpha Centauri
https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/starchips-not-starships-proposed-for-trips-to-alpha-centauri/
https://breakthroughinitiatives.org/initiative/3
Starshot
None
None
<div><div>
 <h2>Starshot</h2>
 
 <p></p>
<p>The story of humanity is a story of great leaps – out of Africa, across oceans, to the skies and into space. Since Apollo 11’s ‘moonshot’, we have been sending our machines ahead of us – to planets, comets, even interstellar space.</p>
<p>But with current rocket propulsion technology, it would take tens or hundreds of millennia to reach our neighboring star system, Alpha Centauri. The stars, it seems, have set strict bounds on human destiny. Until now.</p>
<p>In the last decade and a half, rapid technological advances have opened up the possibility of light-powered space travel at a significant fraction of light speed. This involves a ground-based <strong>light beamer</strong> pushing ultra-light <strong>nanocrafts</strong> – miniature space probes attached to <strong>lightsails</strong> – to speeds of up to 100 million miles an hour. Such a system would allow a flyby mission to reach Alpha Centauri in just over 20 years from launch, beaming home images of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lysJduOqads">its recently-discovered planet Proxima b</a>, and any other planets that may lie in the system, as well as collecting other scientific data such as analysis of magnetic fields.</p>
<p>Breakthrough Starshot aims to demonstrate proof of concept for ultra-fast light-driven nanocrafts, and lay the foundations for a first launch to Alpha Centauri within the next generation. Along the way, the project could generate important supplementary benefits to astronomy, including solar system exploration and detection of Earth-crossing asteroids.</p>
<p>A number of hard engineering challenges remain to be solved before these missions can become a reality. They are listed <a href="/Challenges/3">here</a>, for consideration by experts and public alike, as part of the initiative’s commitment to full transparency and <a href="/Research/3">open access</a>. The initiative will also establish a research grant program, and will make available other funding to support relevant scientific and engineering research and development.</p>
<p>For information for all Starshot solicitations <a href="/Solicitations/3">click here</a>.</p>
 </div>||||I|||| Breakthrough Initiatives
 * About
 * Board
 * Are We Alone?
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 Starshot

 The story of humanity is a story of great leaps – out of Africa, across oceans, to the skies and into space. Since Apollo 11’s ‘moonshot’, we have been sending our machines ahead of us – to planets, comets, even interstellar space.

 But with current rocket propulsion technology, it would take tens or hundreds of millennia to reach our neighboring star system, Alpha Centauri. The stars, it seems, have set strict bounds on human destiny. Until now.

 In the last decade and a half, rapid technological advances have opened up the possibility of light-powered space travel at a significant fraction of light speed. This involves a ground-based light beamer pushing ultra-light nanocrafts – miniature space probes attached to lightsails – to speeds of up to 100 million miles an hour. Such a system would allow a flyby mission to reach Alpha Centauri in just over 20 years from launch, beaming home images of its recently-discovered planet Proxima b, and any other planets that may lie in the system, as well as collecting other scientific data such as analysis of magnetic fields.

 Breakthrough Starshot aims to demonstrate proof of concept for ultra-fast light-driven nanocrafts, and lay the foundations for a first launch to Alpha Centauri within the next generation. Along the way, the project could generate important supplementary benefits to astronomy, including solar system exploration and detection of Earth-crossing asteroids.

 A number of hard engineering challenges remain to be solved before these missions can become a reality. They are listed here, for consideration by experts and public alike, as part of the initiative’s commitment to full transparency and open access. The initiative will also establish a research grant program, and will make available other funding to support relevant scientific and engineering research and development.

 For information for all Starshot solicitations click here.

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Starshot
 
  
The story of humanity is a story of great leaps – out of Africa, across oceans, to the skies and into space. Since Apollo 11’s ‘moonshot’, we have been sending our machines ahead of us – to planets, comets, even interstellar space.
But with current rocket propulsion technology, it would take tens or hundreds of millennia to reach our neighboring star system, Alpha Centauri. The stars, it seems, have set strict bounds on human destiny. Until now.
In the last decade and a half, rapid technological advances have opened up the possibility of light-powered space travel at a significant fraction of light speed. This involves a ground-based light beamer pushing ultra-light nanocrafts – miniature space probes attached to lightsails – to speeds of up to 100 million miles an hour. Such a system would allow a flyby mission to reach Alpha Centauri in just over 20 years from launch, beaming home images of its recently-discovered planet Proxima b, and any other planets that may lie in the system, as well as collecting other scientific data such as analysis of magnetic fields.
Breakthrough Starshot aims to demonstrate proof of concept for ultra-fast light-driven nanocrafts, and lay the foundations for a first launch to Alpha Centauri within the next generation. Along the way, the project could generate important supplementary benefits to astronomy, including solar system exploration and detection of Earth-crossing asteroids.
A number of hard engineering challenges remain to be solved before these missions can become a reality. They are listed here, for consideration by experts and public alike, as part of the initiative’s commitment to full transparency and open access. The initiative will also establish a research grant program, and will make available other funding to support relevant scientific and engineering research and development.
For information for all Starshot solicitations click here.
Starshot
https://breakthroughinitiatives.org/initiative/3
https://futurism.com/billionaire-spacex-private-space-program
Billionaire Says He's Buying SpaceX Launches for "Private Space Program"
2022-02-16
Tony Ho Tran
<div><div><p>Billionaire and SpaceX frequent flier Jared Isaacman recently <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/billionaire-buys-spacex-launches">purchased three more launches</a> with the Elon Musk led aerospace company — and that's after he already flew one of its rockets to orbit on the Inspiration4 mission. </p><p>While it could be chalked up to reckless spending by an eccentric rich dude, the truth sounds a bit more complicated: in a <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/15/22934797/jared-isaacman-spacex-polaris-program-q-and-a">new interview with <em>The Verge</em></a>, Isaacman is now saying he wants to create a "private space program" that culminates in the launch of SpaceX's Starship megarocket.</p><p>He's calling it the <a href="https://polarisprogram.com/">Polaris Program</a>, a series of three launches bankrolled by Isaacman that's described on its site as an effort to "rapidly advance human spaceflight capabilities." The program will kick off with the "Polaris Dawn" mission, which will see the <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/astronauts-first-spacex-spacewalk">first spacewalk conducted by a SpaceX ship</a>. </p><p>"There were some discussions prior to the launch where there was some collaboration of how we can basically embark on essentially a private space program that will ultimately lead to the first crewed launch of Starship," Isaacman told <i>The Verge</i><i>. </i></p><p>Curiously enough, Isaacman said that even though he wanted a private space program, he had no idea what the goals or even the general purpose of it would be until he finished the Inspiration4 mission — which sounds like he may be putting the cart, or at least a pile of billions of dollars, before the horse. </p><p>"At some point, you had to really zero in on just Inspiration4’s objectives and get that right in order to even have the opportunity for these additional missions," he told the website.</p><p>It seems as though the idea's coming into focus now, though. The Polaris Program will help test out equipment like spacesuits in anticipation of bigger spacefaring goals by NASA and SpaceX.  </p><p>"If you’re going to have a presence on the Moon or Mars, you’re probably going to want to get outside your habitat or vehicle and conduct work," Isaacman said. "You’re going to need a lot of spacesuits to be able to do it. So I think a spacewalk is an important building block in terms of the bigger Starship programming ambitions."</p><p>So yeah. Cynics will say that this is just another billionaire playing with his money — but it could help contribute to the goal of making humans a multiplanetary species. So we’ll chalk it up as a win. </p><p><b>READ MORE: </b><a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/15/22934797/jared-isaacman-spacex-polaris-program-q-and-a">Billionaire Jared Isaacman talks origin of Polaris Program and how it could impact spaceflight </a>[<i>The Verge</i>]</p><p><b>More on Polaris: </b><a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/billionaire-buys-spacex-launches"><i>Billionaire Space Tourist Buys Three More SpaceX Launches in Shocking Display of Wealth</i></a></p><br /><div><h3>Share This Article</h3></div></div>||||I|||| Billionaire Blast Off
 2. 16. 22 by Tony Ho Tran
 Billionaire Blast Off
 / Off World

 Billionaire Says He's Buying SpaceX Launches for "Private Space Program"

 Is this what you'd do with billions of dollars?

 / Off World / Polaris Program / Space Tourism / Space X
 2. 16. 22 by Tony Ho Tran
 Image by SpaceX

 Billionaire and SpaceX frequent flier Jared Isaacman recently purchased three more launches with the Elon Musk led aerospace company — and that's after he already flew one of its rockets to orbit on the Inspiration4 mission.

 While it could be chalked up to reckless spending by an eccentric rich dude, the truth sounds a bit more complicated: in a new interview with The Verge , Isaacman is now saying he wants to create a "private space program" that culminates in the launch of SpaceX's Starship megarocket.

 He's calling it the Polaris Program , a series of three launches bankrolled by Isaacman that's described on its site as an effort to "rapidly advance human spaceflight capabilities." The program will kick off with the "Polaris Dawn" mission, which will see the first spacewalk conducted by a SpaceX ship .

 "There were some discussions prior to the launch where there was some collaboration of how we can basically embark on essentially a private space program that will ultimately lead to the first crewed launch of Starship," Isaacman told The Verge .

 Curiously enough, Isaacman said that even though he wanted a private space program, he had no idea what the goals or even the general purpose of it would be until he finished the Inspiration4 mission — which sounds like he may be putting the cart, or at least a pile of billions of dollars, before the horse.

 "At some point, you had to really zero in on just Inspiration4’s objectives and get that right in order to even have the opportunity for these additional missions," he told the website.

 It seems as though the idea's coming into focus now, though. The Polaris Program will help test out equipment like spacesuits in anticipation of bigger spacefaring goals by NASA and SpaceX.

 "If you’re going to have a presence on the Moon or Mars, you’re probably going to want to get outside your habitat or vehicle and conduct work," Isaacman said. "You’re going to need a lot of spacesuits to be able to do it. So I think a spacewalk is an important building block in terms of the bigger Starship programming ambitions."

 So yeah. Cynics will say that this is just another billionaire playing with his money — but it could help contribute to the goal of making humans a multiplanetary species. So we’ll chalk it up as a win.

 READ MORE: Billionaire Jared Isaacman talks origin of Polaris Program and how it could impact spaceflight [ The Verge ]

 More on Polaris: Billionaire Space Tourist Buys Three More SpaceX Launches in Shocking Display of Wealth


 Share This Article

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Billionaire and SpaceX frequent flier Jared Isaacman recently purchased three more launches with the Elon Musk led aerospace company — and that's after he already flew one of its rockets to orbit on the Inspiration4 mission.  While it could be chalked up to reckless spending by an eccentric rich dude, the truth sounds a bit more complicated: in a new interview with The Verge , Isaacman is now saying he wants to create a "private space program" that culminates in the launch of SpaceX's Starship megarocket. He's calling it the Polaris Program, a series of three launches bankrolled by Isaacman that's described on its site as an effort to "rapidly advance human spaceflight capabilities." The program will kick off with the "Polaris Dawn" mission, which will see the first spacewalk conducted by a SpaceX ship.  "There were some discussions prior to the launch where there was some collaboration of how we can basically embark on essentially a private space program that will ultimately lead to the first crewed launch of Starship," Isaacman told The Verge .   Curiously enough, Isaacman said that even though he wanted a private space program, he had no idea what the goals or even the general purpose of it would be until he finished the Inspiration4 mission — which sounds like he may be putting the cart, or at least a pile of billions of dollars, before the horse.  "At some point, you had to really zero in on just Inspiration4’s objectives and get that right in order to even have the opportunity for these additional missions," he told the website. It seems as though the idea's coming into focus now, though. The Polaris Program will help test out equipment like spacesuits in anticipation of bigger spacefaring goals by NASA and SpaceX.   "If you’re going to have a presence on the Moon or Mars, you’re probably going to want to get outside your habitat or vehicle and conduct work," Isaacman said. "You’re going to need a lot of spacesuits to be able to do it. So I think a spacewalk is an important building block in terms of the bigger Starship programming ambitions." So yeah. Cynics will say that this is just another billionaire playing with his money — but it could help contribute to the goal of making humans a multiplanetary species. So we’ll chalk it up as a win.   READ MORE:  Billionaire Jared Isaacman talks origin of Polaris Program and how it could impact spaceflight [The Verge]  More on Polaris:   Billionaire Space Tourist Buys Three More SpaceX Launches in Shocking Display of Wealth     Share This Article
Billionaire Says He's Buying SpaceX Launches for "Private Space Program"
https://futurism.com/billionaire-spacex-private-space-program