Can We Reach Another Solar System_
The nearest star system, Alpha Centauri, lies 4.25 light-years away. With current technology, a one-way trip would take 30,000 to 40,000 years. But a promising alternative is the light sail: a tiny, wafer-thin probe pushed by a massive laser array on Earth to 20% of the speed of light. The Breakthrough Starshot initiative aims to reach Alpha Centauri in just 20 years. The probes would be one-way, flying through the system and beaming images back before continuing into deep space. The laser itself does not yet exist, but the dream of reaching another solar system is alive.
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