How Will We Get to Alpha Centauri?

Humans are attempting to achieve interstellar travel. Here’s why some of the world’s greatest minds believe a nanocraft is the best way to journey into deep space.

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Alpha Centauri: A Triple Star System about 4 Light Years from Earth
“A new study involving long-term monitoring of Alpha Centauri by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory indicates that any planets orbiting the two brightest stars are likely not being pummeled by large amounts of X-ray radiation from their host stars. This is important for the viability of life in the nearest star system outside the Solar System.”

Engage Warp Drive! Why Interstellar Travel's Harder Than It Looks
“How hard is it to hop to the nearest star system or soar across the galaxy? A typical "Star Trek" or "Star Wars" movie makes it look easy. When the heroes get a distant distress call, they use "warp drive" or "hyperdrive" and arrive at their destination within minutes or hours. If we got the right propulsion, would it be possible for us to voyage that quickly in real life?”

Building Sails for Interstellar Probes Will Be Tough, but Not Impossible
“Giant lasers may indeed launch fleets of spacecraft to Alpha Centauri, given breakthroughs in the science behind extraordinarily thin, incredibly reflective sails that can catch this laser light, a new study finds.”

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Seeker inspires us to see the world through the lens of science and evokes a sense of curiosity, optimism and adventure.

[frenchvanilla]

"If we could perfect the light sail, we could get to Alpha Centauri in 20 years". This gives me so much hope.

[anonymoushuman]

Aliens on Alpha Centauri: “how can we get to the solar system”

[Tosti_Tory]

I hope they find a way to stop aging and cure all diseases before I die so I can still be around when humans can travel to other star systems (if we don’t destroy ourselves first of course).

[Master_Therion]

2:06 "10 square meters with a mass of less than 1 gram." That's why it's called a *light* sail ;)

[TommoCarroll]

All of this recent space exploration talk just gets me so excited? Anyone else? What’re you excited about???

[allancuello]

Scientists: We need to make a NEW strong material.

Graphene: Am I a joke to you?

[michelrieskes]

3:05 woah even the lizards are working on it!

[ahsanrohan]

Man I wish I witness Interstellar travel in my lifetime. Would be a great achievement for me :D

[cloudthief]

Who else here would like to visit Alpha Centauri?

[driven_films]

The transformation of DNews when I first discovered it in 2013, to this in 2018, is astonishing! Amazing content and production, but there's a special place in my heart for the old format.

[epsilontic]

The Alpha Centaurians will interpret this as an attack from Earth with high-velocity kinetic weapons.

[GEOGUY-ivqr]

20% the speed of light is impressive, but how do you slow down? If we want to make measurements, we can't do that if we just do a flyby.

[rhyleproatsoccer]

They should use Graphene for the silver part. Graphene is extremely light and an atom thick but way stronger than steel

[Jordan-lrbi]

The problem is we wouldn't be able to get them to slow down once they arrive

[leonidas]

When I get there,
I’m turning my locations off.

[VRMusic]

So ~20 years flight time, plus the 4.22 years for the information sent back to reach earth (at lightspeed). Also, the information has to be recorded while the sail is whooping through Proxima B's vicinity at 20% of lightspeed.

That's a tall order.

[losjulbas]

Make sure to attach GoPro also so we can see if there is life =)

[Jmvars]

If this somehow happens in my lifetime I will absolutely break down with giddy, happy laughter.

[Solid_Hank]

The graphic design in this is amazing :D

[mikesaler]

Very good video. Also appreciate the subdued music & low-key intro & outro. Rare subbed.