Stephen Hawking Looks To Explore The Star System Housing The Earth-Like Planet

Science Jeanette Walsh
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Just outside of our own solar system is the closest possible Earth-like planet. However, the main issue here is not centered on the discovery of the Proxima b. but how it is bothering the scientific community.

One of the leading figures in the search for extraterrestrial life who seems to be more thrilled than everyone else is Stephen Hawking. The popular astrophysicist recently launched a multimillion-dollar project known as “Breakthrough Starshot.”

Funded by Russian billionaire Yuri Milner, the $100 million initiative announced that it plans to send a light weighted nano craft probe to the star system right where Proxima b. is said to have been discovered. Although no announcement has been made about the exact destination of the probe, from all indications, there is every possibility that Proxima b. would make the top list.

While hoping to provide one of the best space shots known to man at a close range from the exoplanet, the tiny spacecraft will, however, be unable to transport humans to the new planet as it will be far too small.

Reaching Alpha Centauri would take anywhere from 20,000 to 160,000 years with a conventional spacecraft which is only about 4 lightyears away. However, Breakthrough Starshot could make history, as it aims at making the journey in about 2 decades. This upgraded spacecraft would travel at 20 percent of the speed of light owing to the fact that the nano craft is designed to be propelled by lasers.

The very same day Proxima b. made the headlines; another key breakthrough was published by the team behind the nano craft technology. In their paper presented at the Harvard University, researchers working on the project stated that a way to avoid the potential destruction of the nano craft while on its journey to the new planet must have been discovered.

This implies that the nano craft may likely not suffer any damage when it encounters dust and gas on its trek.