interstellar travel

Latest about interstellar travel

A light sail using diffractive gratings, as depicted in this artist’s conception, generates sideways forces that could keep it aligned with a laser beam or allow it to be steered toward a target.

Beam Rider: New 'Self-Centering' Laser Sail Could Enable Interstellar Travel

By Charles Q. Choi published

Spacecraft could fly to distant stars using sails with surfaces similar to those of CDs and DVDs to help them stay centered on laser beams, a new study finds.

Technology
A poster for the potential Interstellar Probe mission, which would seek to lay the foundation for future journeys to other star systems.

Scientists Chat Interstellar Probe Project in New York City

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Sending scientific instruments to the edge of the heliosphere, or the sun's region of influence, is like going to the edge of the fish bowl.

Satellites
Black Hole Gargantua in 'Interstellar'

Science @ the Oscars: Kavli Google+ Hangout Explores 'Interstellar,' 'Theory of Everything'

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

Space Movies & Shows
Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones in the Stephen Hawking biopic "The Theory of Everything," which was nominated for five Academy Awards.

'Interstellar,' 'Theory of Everything' Up for 10 Oscars Sunday

By Mike Wall last updated

Space Movies & Shows
Artist’s illustration of a Breakthrough Starshot probe arriving at the potentially Earth-like planet Proxima Centauri b. A representation of laser beams is visible emanating from the corners of the craft’s lightsail.

Is Interstellar Travel Really Possible?

By Paul Sutter published

Interstellar flight is a real pain in the neck.

Technology
BepiColombo snapped these three selfies in space on June 17, 2019. The first photo features one of the solar arrays on a component of the spacecraft called the Mercury Transfer Module. The other two show the medium-gain antenna (middle) and high-gain antenna (right) attached to the Mercury Planetary Orbiter.

BepiColombo Spacecraft Snaps Selfies En Route to Mercury

By Passant Rabie published

Road-trip selfies are a must, especially when you're on your way to another planet.

Launches & Spacecraft
Artist's illustration of a Breakthrough Starshot miniprobe arriving at the potentially Earth-like planet Proxima b.

Breakthrough Needed? Starshot Interstellar-Flight Project Faces Challenges

By Mike Wall published

It's still unclear if the bold interstellar-flight project Breakthrough Starshot can actually work.

Technology
This visualization shows two merging black holes, whose great speed could provide a boost to laser light swinging around them.

Halo Drive: Lasers and Black Holes Could Launch Spaceships to Near Light Speed

By Charles Q. Choi published

Future spaceships could use black holes as powerful launch pads to explore the stars.

Black Holes
'Oumuamua

Interstellar Object 'Oumuamua Could Be a 'Monstrous' Corpse of Comet Dust

By Meghan Bartels published

'Oumuamua is long gone, but it's still leaving scientists guessing. A new explanation proposes that the strange object was a "monstrous fluffy dust aggregate" produced by a busted-up comet.

Comets
Interstellar Asteroid ’Oumuamua

1st Interstellar Visitor 'Oumuamua Is Actually Not That Special

By Hanneke Weitering published

Asteroids
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