The First Real Plan for Interstellar Exploration

A new concept proposes sending a swarm of laser-powered micro-spacecraft, known as Coracles, toward Proxima b in the Proxima Centauri system. Accelerated to near-light speeds by Earth-based lasers, these probes would work collectively to capture high-resolution data and search for biosignatures or technological signals. Despite major challenges in navigation and communication, light-sail technology could enable the first detailed exploration of a potentially habitable world beyond our solar system—within this century. Thank you for listening to Bedtime Astronomy — your guide to the cosmos. New episodes on space exploration, NASA missions & the latest astronomy breakthroughs. This episode includes AI-generated content.