Laser-Swarm Science at the Proxima Centauri System

This artist's illustration shows a swarm of light-sail picospacecraft approaching our nearest neighbour, Proxima Centauri. The exoplanet Proxima Centauri b is in the foreground. Each member of the swarm would carry a camera, and collectively, the swarm would act like a kind of interferometer to create gigapixel resolution images of the exoplanet. Image Credit: Eubanks et al. 2026. From work by Mark Garlick.

The idea of sending a swarm of tiny laser-sail powered spacecraft to our nearest exoplanet won’t go away. While complex and punctuated with tough problems, the idea is the only realistic way of reaching another solar system this century, according to researchers. But the scientific benefits would be huge.

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