A laser sail being developed by the Breakthrough project

NASA just announced that after the Moon and Mars, wants to head to Alpha Centauri in 2069.

Alpha Centauri is the closest solar system to our own, just 4.4 light-years, or 24.9 trillion miles from us. It’s home to three stars: Centauri A, Centauri B, and Proxima Centauri.

Above, a laser sail being developed by the Breakthrough project, which hopes to make to same trip to Alpha Centairi.   Credit Breakthrough project

Alpha Centairi

 An artist’s impression of the system.  Credit NASA

 

Top image: This artist’s impression shows a view of the surface of the planet Proxima b orbiting the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the solar system. The double star Alpha Centauri AB also appears in the image. Proxima b is a little more massive than the Earth and orbits in the habitable zone around Proxima Centauri, where the temperature is suitable for liquid water to exist on its surface.  Credits: ESO/M. Kornmesser

via newscientist

source NASA