Search Results for “100 year starship”

2014 Journal of the BIS Papers

Creating Long Term Income Streams for the 100 Year Starship Study Initiative

A. J. Sylvester (2014), JBIS, 67, pp.147-149

Refcode: 2014.67.147
Keywords: Spinout company, Funding strategy, Exit strategy, Technology transfer

Abstract:
Development and execution of long term research projects are very dependent on a consistent application of funding to maximize the potential for success. The business structure for the 100 Year Starship Study project should allow for multiple income streams to cover the expenses of the research objectives. The following examples illustrate the range of potential avenues: 1) affiliation with a charitable foundation for creating a donation program to fund a long term endowment for research, 2) application for grants to fund initial research projects and establish the core expertise of the research entity, 3) development of intellectual property which can then be licensed for additional revenue, 4) creation of spinout companies with equity positions retained by the lab for funding the endowment, and 5) funded research which is dual use for the technology goals of the interstellar flight research objectives. With the establishment of a diversified stream of funding options, then the endowment can be funded at a level to permit dedicated research on the interstellar flight topics. This paper will focus on the strategy of creating spinout companies to create income streams which would fund the endowment of the 100 Year Starship Study effort. This technique is widely used by universities seeking to commercially develop and market technologies developed by university researchers. An approach will be outlined for applying this technique to potentially marketable technologies generated as a part of the 100 Year Starship Study effort.

2012 Journal of the BIS Papers

Publicly Open Virtualized Gaming Environment For Simulation of All Aspects Related to “100 Year Starship Study”

V. Astakhov; P. Astakhov; T. Astakhova (2012), JBIS, 65, 320-324

Refcode: 2012.65.320
Keywords: Space mission, Computer games, Star travel, Citizen scientist, Imagination

Abstract:
Sending a mission to distant stars will require our civilization to develop new technologies and change the way we live. The complexity of the task is enormous [1] thus, the thought is to involve people from around the globe through the “citizen scientist” paradigm. The suggestion is a “Gaming Virtual Reality Network” (GVRN) to simulate sociological and technological aspects involved in this project. Currently there is work being done [2] in developing a technology which will construct computer games within GVRN. This technology will provide quick and easy ways for individuals to develop game scenarios related to various aspects of the “100YSS” project. People will be involved in solving certain tasks just by play games. Players will be able to modify conditions, add new technologies, geological conditions, social movements and assemble new strategies just by writing scenarios. The system will interface with textual and video information, extract scenarios written in millions of texts and use it to assemble new games. Thus, players will be able to simulate enormous amounts of possibilities. Information technologies will be involved which will require us to start building the system in a way that any modules can be easily replaced. Thus, GVRN should be modular and open to the community.

2014 Journal of the BIS Papers

To Humbly Go: Guarding Against Perpetuating Models of Colonization in the 100-Year Starship Study

W. R. Kramer (2014), JBIS, 67, pp.180-186

Refcode: 2014.67.180
Keywords: 100 Year Starship, Mythology, Frontier, Outer space, Colonialism, Extraterrestrial, Alternative futures

Abstract:
Past patterns of exploration, colonization and exploitation on Earth continue to provide the predominant paradigms that guide many space programs. Any project of crewed space exploration, especially of the magnitude envisioned by the 100-Year Starship Study, must guard against the hubris that may emerge among planners, crew, and others associated with the project, including those industries and bureaucracies that will emerge from the effort. Maintaining a non-exploitative approach may be difficult in consideration of the century of preparatory research and development and the likely multigenerational nature of the voyage itself. Starting now with mission dreamers and planners, the purpose of the voyage must be cast as one of respectful learning and humble discovery, not of conquest (either actual or metaphorical) or other inappropriate models, including military. At a minimum, the Study must actively build non-violence into the voyaging culture it is beginning to create today. References to exploitive colonization, conquest, destiny and other terms from especially American frontier mythology, while tempting in their propagandizing power, should be avoided as they limit creative thinking about alternative possible futures. Future voyagers must strive to adapt to new environments wherever possible and be assimilated by new worlds both biologically and behaviorally rather than to rely on attempts to recreate the Earth they have left. Adaptation should be strongly considered over terraforming. This paper provides an overview of previous work linking the language of colonization to space programs and challenges the extension of the myth of the American frontier to the Starship Study. It argues that such metaphors would be counter-productive at best and have the potential to doom long-term success and survival by planting seeds of social decay and self-destruction. Cautions and recommendations are suggested.

2013 Journal of the BIS Papers

Evolutionary Lightsailing Missions for the 100-Year Starship

L. Friedman et al. (2013), JBIS, 66, p.252-259

Refcode: 2013.66.252

Abstract:
Incremental milestones towards interstellar flight can be achieved in this century by building on first steps with lightsailing, the only known technology that might someday take us to the stars. That this is now possible is enabled by achievements of first solar sail flights, the use of nano-technology for miniaturization of spacecraft, advances in information processing and the decoding of our genomes into transportable form. This paper quantifies a series of robotic steps through and beyond the solar system that are practical and would stimulate the development of new technologies in guidance, navigation, materials, communication, sensors, information processing etc. while exploring ever-more distant, exciting space objectives at distances impractical for classical rocket-based technologies. There robotic steps may be considered as precursors to human interstellar flight, but they may also be considered as evolutionary steps that provide for a different future: One of virtual human interstellar flight that may bypass the ideas of the past (big rockets launching heavy people) in favour of those of the future, networking amongst the stars with information, and the physical transport of digital and biological genomes.

2013 Journal of the BIS Papers

Sustainable Foods and Medicines Support Vitality, Sex and Longevity for a 100-Year Starship Expedition

M. R. Edwards (2013), JBIS, 66, 125-132

Refcode: 2013.66.125

Abstract:
Extended space flight requires foods and medicines that sustain crew health and vitality. The health and therapeutic needs for the entire crew and their children for a 100-year space flight must be sustainable. The starship cannot depend on resupply or carry a large cargo of pharmaceuticals. Everything in the starship must be completely recyclable and reconstructable, including food, feed, textiles, building materials, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and medicines. Smart microfarms will produce functional foods with superior nutrition and sensory attributes. These foods provide high-quality protein and nutralence (nutrient density), that avoids obesity, diabetes, and other Western diseases. The combination of functional foods, lifestyle actions, and medicines will support crew immunity, energy, vitality, sustained strong health, and longevity. Smart microfarms enable the production of fresh medicines in hours or days, eliminating the need for a large dispensary, which eliminates concern over drug shelf life. Smart microfarms are adaptable to the extreme growing area, resource, and environmental constraints associated with an extended starship expedition.

2012 Journal of the BIS Papers

Project Icarus: A 21st Century Interstellar Starship Study

R. K. Obousy (2012), JBIS, 65, 325-329

Refcode: 2012.65.325
Keywords: Project Daedalus, Project Icarus

Abstract:
Inspired by Project Daedalus, Project Icarus is a volunteer five year theoretical design study for an interstellar starship that would reach a nearby star in a journey time of 100 years or less. The purpose of Project Icarus is: 1. To motivate a new generation of scientists in designing space missions that can explore beyond our solar system, 2. To generate greater interest in the real term prospects for interstellar precursor missions that are based on credible science, 3. To design a credible interstellar probe that is a concept design for a potential mission and to provide an assessment of the technological maturity of fusion based space propulsion for future precursor missions, 4. To allow a direct technology comparison with Daedalus and provide an assessment of the maturity of fusion based space propulsion for future precursor missions.

The project was launched in September of 2009 and, to date, the team has invested an estimated 15,000 man hours to the project. In this paper an overview of Project Icarus is presented, including the initial motivations, the technical direction and some early results.

2012 Journal of the BIS Papers

The 34 Year Starship

J. Nosanov; A. Shapiro; H. Garrett (2012), JBIS, 65, 310-319

Refcode: 2012.65.310
Keywords: NASA, JPL, Caltech, MIT, Interstellar, Reliability, Extreme, Long life, Voyager, Pioneer, Golden Record

Abstract:
In 1974, the designers and leadership of a mission then known as “Mariner Jupiter Saturn 1977” decided that the name was a mouthful. They briefly deliberated and decided to rename it “Voyager” [1]. Similarly, we believe that “DARPA 100 Year Starship” is unnecessarily verbose. We propose to call it “Enterprise.” Among the many challenges facing such a mission is that of earning public support – we should let half a century of Hollywood storytelling do that for us. This paper is composed of four parts. Part 1 will discuss the parallels between the Voyager program and a future Enterprise program. Part 2 will go into greater detail regarding the Voyager program and the challenges and opportunities that defined it. Part 3 will discuss some of the major technical challenges for Voyager and Enterprise in greater detail. Part 4 will discuss next steps and various strategies to meet DARPA’s challenge of sustainable industry-funded research into interstellar flight.

Evening Lectures

A Traveler’s Guide to the Stars: The Possibilities of Interstellar Exploration

Join us online for a live streamed Evening Lecture.

Speaker: Les Johnson, NASA Principal Investigator on the Near Earth Asteroid Scout Solar Sail mission

Date: Wednesday 5th April 2023 at 19.00 BST

A TRAVELER’S GUIDE TO THE STARS: The Possibilities of Interstellar Exploration

With known exoplanets now numbering in the thousands and initiatives like 100 Year Starship and Breakthrough Starshot advancing the idea of interstellar travel, the age-old dream of venturing forth into the cosmos and perhaps even colonizing distant worlds may one day become a reality. Physicist, author, and NASA technologist Les Johnson will describe the physics and technologies that may enable us to reach the stars. He will discuss the latest exoplanet discoveries, promising interstellar precursor missions on the not-so-distant horizon, and exciting new developments in space propulsion, power, robotics, communications, and more. Johnson will take us on a journey through the harsh and forbidding expanse of space that awaits us as he addresses the daunting challenges – both human and technological – that we will need to overcome in order to realize tomorrow’s possibilities. Nature is telling us that traveling to the stars will be difficult, but not impossible, and certainly not for the faint of heart.

Speaker Bio:

Les Johnson is a futurist, author, and NASA technologist. He is a founding member of the Interstellar Research Group, a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society, a member of the National Space Society, and was accepted into MENSA. Les has written several science fiction novels and multiple popular science, non-fiction books about space and space exploration including his recently published A Traveler’s Guide to the Stars from Princeton University Press. In his day job, Les works at the NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama where he develops advanced in-space propulsion systems and other advanced space technologies. During his career at NASA, Les served as the Manager for the Space Science Programs and Projects Office, the In-Space Propulsion Technology Project, and the Interstellar Propulsion Research Project.

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2020 Journal of the BIS Papers

A Rapid Study on the Development of an Interstellar Roadmap and Planning Ahead for Technology Maturation

K. F. Long (2020), JBIS, 73, pp.6-14

Refcode: 2020.73.6
Keywords: Interstellar roadmaps, Interstellar studies

Abstract:
This paper examines the issue of interstellar strategic and technological roadmap building. In particular we examine one particular pathway for getting to a human interstellar mission, assuming a launch date criterion of 2111. This work was originally completed in four days to support the US DARPA/NASA 100 Year Starship study program in 2011, and is published now as a record of that earlier work. The specific roadmap demonstrated, structured over five generations of working programs and including consideration of physics, engineering and economics, is not claimed to be a preferred or optimum approach by any means. It is simply an example to provoke discussion and to illustrate the broad architectural challenges that both robotic and crewed interstellar missions involve, if we are to assume conventional models of thinking that rely upon industrial methods for constructing human colonies.

2013 Journal of the BIS Papers

The Interstellar Vision: Principles and Practice

P. A. Gilster (2013), JBIS, 66, pp.223-232

Refcode: 2013.66.223

Abstract:
The ambitious title of the 100 Year Starship study will resonate with the public, a fact that requires the recipient of the DARPA grant to use communicators who can follow a careful strategy as they bring this vision to the Internet and other outlets. It will be necessary to spur public engagement and sustain the `buzz’ that will help the organization develop its ideas. This paper examines these issues in the context of the author’s long involvement with Centauri Dreams, a Web site devoted to presenting interstellar flight to a broad, general audience. Central to the presentation of the starship idea is the advocacy of long-term thinking and the value of spin-off research by placing the goal of a starship in the context of other human activities that have transcended the lifetime of individual participants. Teaching cross-generational responsibility will invoke issues of history, economics and philosophy in addition to the technology issues raised by a journey of this magnitude. The best communicators for this role will be generalists who can connect such widely dispersed disciplines. Key to the study is the development of a Web presence that uses the Internet with caution. Certain Internet myths including `the wisdom of crowds’ and resistance to top-down editing will compromise the project. The benefits and drawbacks of social networking will be discussed in this context. A strong editorial voice willing to cull public responses to maintain high standards in the resulting discussions is essential. Furthermore, a high standard of reporting demands the presentation of research without associated hype and a level of discourse that educates but does not patronize its audience. Careful citation of relevant research and a willingness to set the bar of discussion high will result in feedback from researchers and the public that, with the help of strenuous moderation, will build a database of third party ideas that will engage interest and add materially to the value of the overall research.