The design was studied during the 1990s by
Penn State University. The craft was designed to reach a distance on the order of 10,000
AU from the
Sun, with a travel time of 50 years, and a
coasting velocity of approximately 960 km/s after the boost phase (roughly 1/300th of the
speed of light). The probe would be able to study the interstellar medium as well as reach
Alpha Centauri. The project would require more antimatter than we are capable of producing. In addition, some technical hurdles need to be surpassed before it would be feasible. ==See also==