GoKawiilStarcloud founders plan 2029 launch of tiny probe toward Alpha Centauri
A nonprofit team led by Starcloud co-founders Philip Johnston, Adi Oltean and Ezra Feilden is developing the Fermi Explorer, a 1-kilogram, 10-centimeter cube meant to be the first human-made object aimed at another star system. The probe would spend 12 years spiraling closer to the sun to build speed before exiting the solar system in the early 2040s, then travel roughly 79,800 years before reaching Alpha Centauri.
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The project is less about practical exploration than symbolism, showing how far current propulsion technology is from true interstellar travel while still testing techniques like gravitational slingshot maneuvers. It also reflects a growing trend of private groups pursuing ambitious space milestones once reserved for national agencies, even when payoffs are millennia away.
- Fermi Explorer aims to launch in 2029 as a tiny 1kg cube spacecraft.
- It would take about 79,800 years to reach Alpha Centauri after leaving the solar system in the early 2040s.
- The mission is largely symbolic, meant to spark public interest in interstellar travel rather than deliver near-term scientific results.
Celestron NexStar 4SE Telescope — If an 80,000-year trip to Alpha Centauri feels a little slow, you can look at the stars tonight instead. The Celestron NexStar 4SE is a computerized go-to telescope that finds objects for you, making it easy to hop from planets to star clusters. It's a compact, beginner-friendly way to get personally invested in the neighboring stars these missions are aiming for.
See Celestron NexStar 4SE Telescope on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: cnet.com — Joe Hindy, 2026-09-01
Published there as: “Are We There Yet? Startup Wants to Launch an 80,000-Year Mission to Alpha Centauri”
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