Anyone can build an interstellar generation ship: what it is and why it's necessary (with photos).

Humans have already developed the necessary technologies to explore the Solar System. However, one day, people will want to venture further, towards nearby stars, where water-rich planets similar to Earth may exist. Even if, in the near future, humans manage to create engines that allow for space travel at a speed equivalent to 10% of the speed of light, a journey to the nearest star with an Earth-like world could take decades or even hundreds of years at best. Considering this, scientists believe it is essential to develop an interstellar generational ship. This hypothetical spacecraft would be capable of sustaining human life for several generations as they embark on a journey to the closest star system. A new project competition, named Project Hyperion, invites proposals for the design of a generational starship, as reported by Space.

The project is part of a study aimed at assessing the feasibility of crewed interstellar flight using current and future technologies, and it hopes to provide insights for future research and technological developments.

Instead of focusing on designing the engine or the structure of the interstellar ship, scientists are interested in answering the question of what the ideal architecture of a space habitat and social system would look like for such a journey.

To participate in the competition, teams are tasked with designing the habitat of the generational ship, including its architecture and social organization system.

The conditions that proposals must meet are as follows:

• the hypothetical mission duration is 250 Earth years from launch to arrival at the destination;
• the target destination is a rocky planet with an artificial ecosystem created by a precursor probe;
• the ship must generate artificial gravity through rotation;
• the ship must have atmospheric conditions similar to those on Earth;
• the habitat must protect its inhabitants from radiation and potential cosmic hazards;
• the ship must accommodate 1000 ± 500 people throughout the journey.

Additionally, the following factors must be considered when creating the design for the generational starship:

• How will the ship's design provide its residents with privacy, given that they will be in a confined space?
• How will the habitat design minimize potential conflict, and how will the social system handle possible unethical behavior?
• How will the ship's design ensure the residents can maintain an intimate life?
• How will social roles be distributed?
• How will the ship's inhabitants maintain communication with Earth?

More detailed information about the specific requirements of the competition and the timeline can be found on the ProjectHyperion.org website.