The nearest star system sits 4.2 light-years away—a distance today’s spacecraft would need tens of thousands of years to cross, yet a proposed laser-driven sail carrying a gram-scale probe could make the journey in just over 20.

A laser-driven lightsail could in principle send a gram-scale probe to Alpha Centauri in just over 20 years, but the complete mission still depends on an unbuilt laser, sail and communications system. The post The nearest star system sits 4.2 light-years away—a distance today’s spacecraft would need tens of thousands of years to cross, yet a proposed laser-driven sail carrying a gram-scale probe could make the journey in just over 20. appeared first on Space Daily .