The founders of Starcloud are setting their sights beyond the solar system with the Fermi Explorer mission, aiming to send a tiny spacecraft on a 80,000-year journey to Alpha Centauri. This non-profit mission seeks partners, donations, and scientific payloads to achieve a historic milestone in human exploration.

The journey is ambitious, with the spacecraft planned to launch in 2029 and use electric propulsion to navigate through the vast distances. The founders, inspired by earlier interstellar missions, aim to use existing technologies rather than developing new, expensive propulsion systems.

Despite the seemingly daunting timescale, Philip Johnston, one of the founders, is optimistic about the mission's potential. 'We are hell-bent on actually launching something in three years,' he says. The project hopes to test the Fermi paradox, which questions why we haven’t found signs of extraterrestrial life yet.

While this mission may seem far-fetched, it represents a significant shift in the approach to interstellar travel. Unlike Breakthrough Starshot, which aimed for a human-scale mission, Fermi Explorer takes a more conservative approach, focusing on the longevity and adaptability of the spacecraft.

With a payload of just 1 kilogram and a 10 cm square, the Fermi Explorer encapsulates the spirit of exploration and the enduring quest to understand our place in the universe. If successful, it could pave the way for future missions that are both practical and ambitious.