User:Dudegalea/Project Icarus
Project Icarus is a theoretical design study with the aim of designing a credible nuclear fusion-based interstellar probe that will serve as a concept design for a potential unmanned mission that could be launched before the end of the 21st century. The project is being run under the auspices of the Tau Zero Foundation (TZF) and the British Interplanetary Society (BIS), and is inspired by Project Daedalus, a similar study that was conducted by the BIS in the 1970s.
The project is a five year design study that began on September 30, 2009. A team of approximately twenty scientists and engineers has been formed. One conference has been held to launch the project, and two journal submissions have been made which are currently in the peer review stages. Icarus will utilise fusion based engine technology which would accelerate the spacecraft to an estimated 10% to 20% of the speed of light.
Broadly stated, the purpose of Project Icarus is as follows:
- To design a credible interstellar probe that is a concept design for a potential mission in the coming centuries.
- To allow a direct technology comparison with Daedalus and provide an assessment of the maturity of fusion based space propulsion for future precursor missions.
- To generate greater interest in the real term prospects for interstellar precursor missions that are based on credible science.
- To motivate a new generation of scientists to be interested in designing space missions that go beyond our solar system.
Project Icarus is intended to be a complete redesign of the Daedalus systems including a re-examination of some of the original assumptions.