Using laser cannons, scientists want to send microscopic animals to another solar system. The trip to Proxima Centauri could be completed in 20 years, writes Ny Teknik.
Researchers at the University of California at Santa Barbara want to try sending out very small organisms on an interstellar journey. The idea is to test a new type of propulsion system.
Microscopic bears and roundworms can be the first creatures from Earth to reach a different solar system. At least if the researchers get what they want.
So far, humans can not get that far because conventional rocket fuel is not enough for trips that are several light years long. Instead, they want to use large laser cannons. The idea behind using the microscopic animals is that they are known to be able to cure in difficult conditions.
Small probe can reach other solar system
“This is something that has never been done before, to send macroscopic objects at speeds approaching the speed of light,” said Professor Philip Lubin of the University of Santa Barbara in a press release.
Small probes, which are very light but can still collect data, should carry the small microorganisms.
Lupine estimates that the first craft could be the same size as a human hand and powered by so-called sun sails, which get their driving force with the help of lasers on the earth’s surface. Previous calculations have shown that a power of 100 GW would be required for a couple of minutes to send a vessel away, which is large energies.
If the method works in practice, it would take around 20 years to send a probe to our nearest solar system Proxima Centauri. Philip Lubin envisions that the same propulsion technology in the future can also be used for travel within our own solar system.
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