The 36-mile-long spaceship Chrysalis has been designed to take up to 2,400 people on a 400-year journey to Alpha Centauri, the star system closest to our own. The ship’s design won first place in the Project Hyperion Design Competition. Chrysalis is a giant tube with a simple exterior design.
This shape helps keep the occupants safe during acceleration and provides protection against space debris. The ship’s mass is mostly liquid propellant stored in cylindrical tanks. Inside, Chrysalis has rotating shells that create artificial gravity using centrifugal force.
This prevents health problems caused by long periods in microgravity.
Design of Chrysalis space voyage
The ship is divided into different sections, including a central core with shuttles and communication equipment, a food production layer, communal spaces like parks and libraries, residential areas, industrial facilities, and an outer shell for storage.
Before the journey, the first generations of passengers would live in Antarctica for 70 to 80 years. This would help them prepare psychologically for life in a confined space. Building the ship is expected to take 20 to 25 years using technology that may be possible in the future.
The population on Chrysalis would be carefully controlled to around 1,500 people to ensure there are enough resources for everyone. Artificial intelligence would help govern the ship, transfer knowledge between generations, and monitor the spacecraft’s systems. Although the technology to build Chrysalis doesn’t exist yet, designs like this help contribute to the knowledge needed for future interstellar travel.
It represents a significant step towards the possibility of humanity one day journeying to other star systems.
