Solar One (interstellar)

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Solar One is a proposed spacecraft that would combine beamed-powered propulsion, electromagnetic propulsion, and nuclear propulsion.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-09 |title=The Radical Spacecraft That Could Send Humans to a Habitable Exoplanet |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/deep-space/a34907687/solar-one-radical-spacecraft-crewed-interstellar-travel-light-sail-fusion-reactor/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Popular Mechanics |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Solar One: A proposal for the first manned interstellar spaceship|url=https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Solar_One_A_proposal_for_the_first_manned_interstellar_spaceship_999.html|access-date=2020-12-07|website=Space Daily}} The spacecraft would include a light sail, a laser system, a Bussard scoop, and a compact nuclear fusion reactor.{{Cite journal |last=Caballero |first=Alberto |title=Solar One: A Proposal for The First Crewed Interstellar Spacecraft |url=https://commons.erau.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1535&context=ijaaa |journal=IJAAA}}

Large mirrors would be assembled in orbit and sent close to the Sun to collect sufficient light to propel the light sail.{{Cite web|last=Wang|first=Brian|date=2020-05-10|title=Proposed Manned Interstellar Vehicle Solar One {{!}} NextBigFuture.com|url=https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2020/05/proposed-manned-interstellar-vehicle-assumes-supertech.html|access-date=2020-12-07|website=www.nextbigfuture.com|language=en-US}} The on board laser would help the Bussard scoop collect hydrogen to power the nuclear reactor which, in turn, would power both the laser and the electromagnetic scoop to decelerate the spacecraft.{{Cite web |last=Bergan |first=Brad |title=New Revolutionary Spacecraft Might Send Humans to Habitable Exoplanets |url=https://interestingengineering.com/science/new-revolutionary-spacecraft-might-send-humans-to-habitable-exoplanets?group=test_a |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Interesting Engineering |language=en}}

The main challenges are building large parabolic mirrors as well as reducing the weight of the on board laser system and compact nuclear reactor.{{Cite web|date=2020-05-22|title=Solar One – a concept for interstellar travel|url=https://www.innovationnewsnetwork.com/solar-one-a-concept-for-interstellar-travel/5239/|access-date=2020-12-07|website=Innovation News Network|language=en-GB}}