What Would an Interstellar Spaceship Look Like?

[Blue_Tires]

Project Icarus is an ambitious five-year study into launching an unmanned spacecraft to an interstellar destination. Headed by the Tau Zero Foundation and British Interplanetary Society, a non-profit group of scientists dedicated to interstellar spaceflight, Icarus is working to develop a spacecraft that can travel to a nearby star.

In Part 1 of this two-part article, Kelvin Long, Design Lead for the Project Icarus Vehicle Configuration, describes the design constraints that were placed on the original Project Daedalus interstellar spacecraft.

WIDE ANGLE: Project Icarus: Reaching for Interstellar Space



One of the most exciting parts of Project Icarus which is on everyone's mind with an interest in the project, is what will the spacecraft look like? Will it be very similar to the Daedalus design or radically different?

Before we address the design of the Icarus spacecraft, let us remind ourselves about the Project Daedalus spacecraft configuration.

SLIDE SHOW: What does the original Project Daedalus spacecraft design look like?

The core section of the Daedalus vehicle was the use of a slender structural spine, from which all the other components could be attached. The use of this spine was possible due to the low vehicle acceleration levels and assembly in space.

During the design work, several spine types were investigated. With maximum torsional (twisting) stiffness and minimal buckling being one of the major engineering requirements, a triangulated structure was chosen for the Daedalus vehicle.

Along the spine were several core parts. For the first stage, it was divided into two sections, the engine bay and the service bay, which included all facilities and propellant tanks. The second stage also had these sections but included the science payload bay.

http://news.discovery.com/space/project-daedalus-interstellar-spacecraft-design-110308.html

[Hardrada]

1. Some of us would like to leave on one now!

[Rabblevox]

9. But most of us would be on a no-fly list. /nt

[Newest Reality]

2. Maybe by spending money on something like that

we can find some intelligent life?

That would be significant because there is very little of it evidenced by leaders and corporations here!

[Boswell]

3. that is a good site, check their Japan video too

[pokerfan]

4. I'm no expert on Greek mythology

but didn't Icarus fly too high, melt his wings and fall to his death?

[laconicsax]

5. Kinda...

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1938">link

[deutsey]

7. Yeah, it's about taking the middle way

Don't go to either extreme...the sun will melt your wings or the waves below will pull you down.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Sphere(s)

[Kaleva]

8. Sending a spacecraft looking like an anal probe may give aliens the wrong message.

[FiveGoodMen]

11. They'll think it's pay-back for all the poor farmers they buggered

[DetlefK]

10. Overall cylindric with hollowed-out spine

The spine could be a hexagonal grid like a carbon nanotube.

* The most inner layer is a tunnel with atmosphere and zero gravity. Perfect for sleeping and as a last resort when the ship gets damaged.
* Then comes the spine, with the most crucial technology integrated: computers and environmental machines.
* Then comes the outer layer: decks that have pseudo-gravity from centrifugal force, plus water-tanks (radiation shielding) and storage rooms.
* Then comes the meteor shielding. And on the outside docking mechanisms, sensors and robotic tools.

A Space Shuttle-sized vehicle for manned missions would be an extra.

A cylindrical shape would also support a magnetic field that surrounds the spaceship and protects it from some kinds of radiation.

[krispos42]

12. What he said n/t

[tinrobot]

13. Looks a lot like the ship from '2001 a Space Odyssey'

Hope the computer's name isn't HAL.