Project Hyperion (interstellar)
{{Short description|Hypothetical technology}}File:Stanford Torus-based generation ship.png-based generation ship, proposed by Project Hyperion{{cite journal |last1=Hein |first1=Andreas M. |last2=Pak |first2=Mikhail |last3=Pütz |first3=Daniel |last4=Bühler |first4=Christian |last5=Reiss |first5=Philipp |title=World ships—architectures & feasibility revisited |journal=Journal of the British Interplanetary Society |date=2012 |volume=65 |issue=4 |page=119|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236177990}}]]
Project Hyperion, launched in December 2011 by Andreas M. Hein, is a project aimed at performing a preliminary study that defined integrated concepts for a crewed interstellar starship or generation ship. This is a study mainly based out of the WARR student group at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). The study aims to provide an assessment of the feasibility of crewed interstellar flight using current and near-future technologies. It also aims to guide future research and technology development plans as well as to inform the public about crewed interstellar travel.{{Cite web|last=Interstellar|first=Icarus|date=2020-12-06|title=Icarus Interstellar, Interstellar flight|url=http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/projects/project-hyperion|access-date=2020-12-07|website=Icarus Interstellar|language=en|archive-date=2020-12-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214085530/http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/projects/project-hyperion/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|last=DNews|title=Icarus Interstellar: Visions of Our Starship Future|url=https://www.seeker.com/icarus-interstellar-visions-of-our-starship-future-1769714561.html|access-date=2020-12-07|website=Seeker|date=10 April 2015 }}{{cite web |last1=Mirsky |first1=Steve |title=Darwin in Space: How Multigenerational Missions Could Shape Human Evolution |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/darwin-in-space-how-multigeneration-12-12-18/ |website=Scientific American |access-date=24 February 2021}}
Notable results of the project include an assessment of world ship system architectures and adequate population size.{{cite journal |last1=Hein |first1=Andreas M. |last2=Pak |first2=Mikhail |last3=Pütz |first3=Daniel |last4=Bühler |first4=Christian |last5=Reiss |first5=Philipp |title=World ships—architectures & feasibility revisited |journal=Journal of the British Interplanetary Society |date=2012 |volume=65 |issue=4 |page=119|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236177990}}{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=Cameron M. |title=Estimation of a genetically viable population for multigenerational interstellar voyaging: Review and data for project Hyperion |journal=Acta Astronautica |date=2014 |volume=97 |pages=16–29 |doi=10.1016/j.actaastro.2013.12.013 |bibcode=2014AcAau..97...16S |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094576513004669|url-access=subscription }}{{cite web |last1=Fecht |first1=Sarah |title=How Many People Does It Take to Colonize Another Star System? |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/deep-space/a10369/how-many-people-does-it-take-to-colonize-another-star-system-16654747/ |website=Popular Mechanics |date=2 April 2014 |access-date=24 February 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Wall |first1=Mike |title=Want to Colonize an Alien Planet? Send 40,000 People |url=https://www.space.com/26603-interstellar-starship-colony-population-size.html |website=Space.com |date=28 July 2014 |access-date=24 February 2021}} The project has also been featured in the TV-series Rendezvous with the Future (BBC/Bilibili), popular science books{{cite book |last1=Reichl |first1=Eugen |title=Zukunftsprojekte der Raumfahrt: seit 1957 (Typenkompass) |date=2012 |publisher=Motorbuch Verlag |location=Germany |edition=1}} as well as art.{{cite web |last1=Hardy |first1=David |title=Project Hyperion: Asteroid Starship |url=https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1618045 |website=ComicArtFans |access-date=15 May 2021}}
The core team members have transferred to the Initiative for Interstellar Studies's world ship project and have presented their results at the ESA Interstellar Workshop in 2019 as well as in ESA's Acta Futura journal.{{cite journal |last1=Hein |first1=Andreas M |last2=Smith |first2=Cameron |last3=Marin |first3=Frederic |last4=Staats |first4=Kai |title=World Ships: Feasibility and Rationale |journal=Acta Futura |date=2020 |volume=12 |pages=75–104 |doi=10.5281/zenodo.3747333 |arxiv=2005.04100 |s2cid=218571111 }}{{cite web |last1=Faife |first1=Corin |title=Scientists Are Contemplating a 1,000-Year Space Mission to Save Humanity |url=https://onezero.medium.com/scientists-are-contemplating-a-1-000-year-space-mission-to-save-humanity-70882a0d6e47 |website=Medium - OneZero |date=17 December 2019 |access-date=14 February 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Hein |first1=Andreas M |last2=Smith |first2=Cameron |last3=Marin |first3=Frédéric |last4=Staats |first4=Kai |title=World Ships –Feasibility and Rationale |url=https://indico.esa.int/event/309/attachments/3517/4683/World_Ships_-_Andreas_Hein.pdf |access-date=16 February 2021}}{{cite web |title=Scientists Are Planning a 1,000 Year Trip to Another Planet |url=https://futurism.com/the-byte/1000-year-trip-colonize-another-planet |website=Futurism |date=10 December 2019 |access-date=24 February 2021}}
An interdisciplinary design competition was launched in 2024.{{cite web |last1=Feehly |first1=Conor |title=Design an Interstellar 'Generation Ship' to Spend Decades Among the Stars with Project Hyperion Competition |url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/tech/design-an-interstellar-generation-ship-to-spend-decades-among-the-stars-with-project-hyperion-competition |website=Space.com |date=5 November 2024 |access-date=16 November 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Bob McDonald |title=Contest Invites Teams to Design a 'Generation Starship' for a 250-Year Journey |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/generation-starship-contest-1.7378039 |website=CBC Radio |date=8 November 2024 |access-date=16 November 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Szondy |first1=David |title=Spaceship Architects Asked to Design Star-Hopping Generation Ships |url=https://newatlas.com/space/spaceship-architects-generation-ships-competition/ |website=New Atlas |date=15 November 2024 |access-date=16 November 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Matt |title=Project Hyperion Is Seeking Ideas for Building Humanity's First Generation Ship |url=https://www.universetoday.com/169223/project-hyperion-is-seeking-ideas-for-building-humanitys-first-generation-ship/ |website=Universe Today |date=11 November 2024 |access-date=16 November 2024}}