Project Icarus

Project Icarus is a volunteer theoretical engineering study to design an interstellar spacecraft. The project was launched on September 30th 2009 at the British Interplanetary Society HQ in London, and is a five year study.

The purpose of Project Icarus is four-fold:
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 in the coming centuries so as to allow a direct technology comparison with Daedalus and to provide an assessment of the 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.

Project Icarus was initiated by the British Interplanetary Society (BIS) and the Tau Zero Foundation (TZF) and is currently being managed by Icarus Interstellar Inc., a nonprofit foundation.

Project Icarus was inspired by Project Daedalus, which ran from 1973 to 1978. 

Project Daedalus, a British Interplanetary Society project, concluded that interstellar travel is feasible. 

Specifically, Daedalus demonstrated that it is possible, by using current or credible extrapolations of existing technology, to launch an interstellar probe that could reach another solar system on timescales of a normal human lifetime.

The primary objectives of Project Icarus is to produce a completed set of technical reports which describe the engineering layout, functionality, physics, operation, expected performance and mission profile of an unmanned interstellar probe according to the requirements set out in the Project Icarus Terms of Reference document.

Project Icarus is an international project and we are slowly attempting to recruit representatives from all the permanently inhabited continents. They believe that humankind's first interstellar mission will be a global effort and are building a team that is representative of this.

If you feel that you have a unique skill that could add in some way to their efforts contact the Icarus team: info@icarusinterstellar.org

A quote from Sir Arthur Eddington, from Stars and Atoms ( (Oxford University Press, 1927, p. 41) ).

In ancient days two aviators procured to themselves wings. Daedalus flew safely through the middle air and was duly honoured on his landing. Icarus soared upwards to the sun till the wax melted which bound his wings and his flight ended in fiasco. In weighing their achievements, there is something to be said for Icarus. The classical authorities tell us that he was only "doing a stunt", but I prefer to think of him as the man who brought to light a serious constructional defect in the flying-machines of his day. So, too, in Science. Cautious Daedalus will apply his theories where he feels confident they will safely go; but by his excess of caution their hidden weaknesses remain undiscovered. Icarus will strain his theories to the breaking-point till the weak joints gape. For the mere adventure? Perhaps partly; this is human nature. But if he is destined not yet to reach the sun and solve finally the riddle of its constitution, we may at least hope to learn from his journey some hints to build a better machine.
- Sir Arthur Eddington
"Stars and Atoms"

NASA interplanetary spacecraft sets record

The space agency said a spacecraft's change in velocity refers to its ability to change its path through space by using its own rocket engines.

To reach its present location in the asteroid belt, NASA said Dawn had to fire its three engines -- one at a time -- for a cumulative total of 620 days.

During that time, it used less than 165 kilograms (363 pounds) of xenon propellant.

NASA says its ion-propelled Dawn spacecraft -- en route to explore two of the asteroid belt's most massive objects -- has set a record for velocity change.

Officials said the record previously held by NASA's Deep Space 1 -- the first interplanetary spacecraft to use ion propulsion -- fell Saturday when Dawn's accumulated mission acceleration exceeded 4.3 kilometers per second -- 9,600 mph.

In one year's time, Dawn's ion propulsion system can increase the spacecraft's speed by 8,850 kilometers per hour (5,500 mph), while consuming the equivalent of only 16 gallons of fuel, NASA said.

Dawn's 3-billion-mile mission includes exploration of asteroid Vesta in 2011 and 2012, and the dwarf planet Ceres in 2015.

Dawn, launched in September 2007, is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.