StarChip

StarChip is a concept developed by the Breakthrough Starshot initiative, aiming to send tiny spacecraft to the Alpha Centauri star system, approximately 4.37 light-years away. The spacecraft, known as StarChips, are designed to be lightweight and propelled by ground-based lasers. Each StarChip is a gram-scale wafer, equipped with a miniature camera, photon thrusters, and power supply. The chips are intended to travel at a significant fraction of the speed of light, potentially reaching their destination within a generation.

The Breakthrough Starshot initiative, launched in 2016, is a collaborative effort involving scientists, engineers, and philanthropists. The project aims to demonstrate proof-of-concept for interstellar travel and explore the potential for future missions to other star systems. The initiative has faced challenges, including the development of the necessary laser technology and the miniaturization of spacecraft components.

StarChips are designed to be launched in large numbers, with each chip carrying a small payload of scientific instruments. The data collected by the StarChips would be transmitted back to Earth using laser communication. The initiative envisions a future where StarChips could be used to explore exoplanets and search for signs of life beyond our solar system.