{{Short description|Hypothetical technology}}[[File:Stanford Torus-based generation ship.png|thumb|[[Stanford Torus]]-based generation ship, proposed by Project Hyperion<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hein |first1=Andreas M. |last2=Pak |first2=Mikhail |last3=Pütz |first3=Daniel |last4=Bühler |first4=Christian |last5=Reiss |first5=Philipp |title=World ships—architectures & feasibility revisited |journal=Journal of the British Interplanetary Society |date=2012 |volume=65 |issue=4 |page=119|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236177990}}</ref>]]
'''Project Hyperion''', launched in December 2011 by Andreas M. Hein, is a project aimed at performing a preliminary study to define integrated concepts for a crewed interstellar starship or [[generation ship]]. It has led to the most detailed designs of generation ships to date.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carr |first1=Geoffrey |title=How to build a ship for interstellar travel |url=https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/07/31/how-to-build-a-ship-for-interstellar-travel |website=economist.com |date=31 July 2025 |access-date=7 July 2025}}</ref> Its origins can be traced to the [[WARR (research group)|WARR]] student group at the [[Technical University of Munich]] (TUM). The study aims to provide an assessment of the feasibility of crewed interstellar flight using current and near-future technologies. It also aims to guide future research and technology development plans as well as to inform the public about crewed [[interstellar travel]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Interstellar|first=Icarus|date=2020-12-06|title=Icarus Interstellar, Interstellar flight|url=http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/projects/project-hyperion|access-date=2020-12-07|website=Icarus Interstellar|language=en|archive-date=2020-12-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214085530/http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/projects/project-hyperion/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=DNews|title=Icarus Interstellar: Visions of Our Starship Future|url=https://www.seeker.com/icarus-interstellar-visions-of-our-starship-future-1769714561.html|access-date=2020-12-07|website=Seeker|date=10 April 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mirsky |first1=Steve |title=Darwin in Space: How Multigenerational Missions Could Shape Human Evolution |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/darwin-in-space-how-multigeneration-12-12-18/ |website=Scientific American |access-date=24 February 2021}}</ref>
Notable results of the project include an assessment of world ship system architectures and adequate population size.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hein |first1=Andreas M. |last2=Pak |first2=Mikhail |last3=Pütz |first3=Daniel |last4=Bühler |first4=Christian |last5=Reiss |first5=Philipp |title=World ships—architectures & feasibility revisited |journal=Journal of the British Interplanetary Society |date=2012 |volume=65 |issue=4 |page=119|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236177990}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=Cameron M. |title=Estimation of a genetically viable population for multigenerational interstellar voyaging: Review and data for project Hyperion |journal=Acta Astronautica |date=2014 |volume=97 |pages=16–29 |doi=10.1016/j.actaastro.2013.12.013 |bibcode=2014AcAau..97...16S |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094576513004669|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Fecht |first1=Sarah |title=How Many People Does It Take to Colonize Another Star System? |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/deep-space/a10369/how-many-people-does-it-take-to-colonize-another-star-system-16654747/ |website=Popular Mechanics |date=2 April 2014 |access-date=24 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wall |first1=Mike |title=Want to Colonize an Alien Planet? Send 40,000 People |url=https://www.space.com/26603-interstellar-starship-colony-population-size.html |website=Space.com |date=28 July 2014 |access-date=24 February 2021}}</ref> The project has also been featured in the TV-series [[Rendezvous with the Future (TV series)|''Rendezvous with the Future'']] (BBC/Bilibili), popular science books<ref>{{cite book |last1=Reichl |first1=Eugen |title=Zukunftsprojekte der Raumfahrt: seit 1957 (Typenkompass) |date=2012 |publisher=Motorbuch Verlag |location=Germany |edition=1}}</ref> as well as art.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hardy |first1=David |title=Project Hyperion: Asteroid Starship |url=https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1618045 |website=ComicArtFans |access-date=15 May 2021}}</ref>
The core team members have transferred to the [[Initiative for Interstellar Studies]]'s world ship project and have presented their results at the [[European Space Agency|ESA]] Interstellar Workshop in 2019 as well as in [[European Space Agency|ESA]]'s ''Acta Futura'' journal.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hein |first1=Andreas M |last2=Smith |first2=Cameron |last3=Marin |first3=Frederic |last4=Staats |first4=Kai |title=World Ships: Feasibility and Rationale |journal=Acta Futura |date=2020 |volume=12 |pages=75–104 |doi=10.5281/zenodo.3747333 |arxiv=2005.04100 |s2cid=218571111 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Faife |first1=Corin |title=Scientists Are Contemplating a 1,000-Year Space Mission to Save Humanity |url=https://onezero.medium.com/scientists-are-contemplating-a-1-000-year-space-mission-to-save-humanity-70882a0d6e47 |website=Medium - OneZero |date=17 December 2019 |access-date=14 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hein |first1=Andreas M |last2=Smith |first2=Cameron |last3=Marin |first3=Frédéric |last4=Staats |first4=Kai |title=World Ships –Feasibility and Rationale |url=https://indico.esa.int/event/309/attachments/3517/4683/World_Ships_-_Andreas_Hein.pdf |access-date=16 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Scientists Are Planning a 1,000 Year Trip to Another Planet |url=https://futurism.com/the-byte/1000-year-trip-colonize-another-planet |website=Futurism |date=10 December 2019 |access-date=24 February 2021}}</ref>
An interdisciplinary design competition was launched in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Feehly |first1=Conor |title=Design an Interstellar 'Generation Ship' to Spend Decades Among the Stars with Project Hyperion Competition |url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/tech/design-an-interstellar-generation-ship-to-spend-decades-among-the-stars-with-project-hyperion-competition |website=Space.com |date=5 November 2024 |access-date=16 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Bob McDonald |title=Contest Invites Teams to Design a 'Generation Starship' for a 250-Year Journey |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/generation-starship-contest-1.7378039 |website=CBC Radio |date=8 November 2024 |access-date=16 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Szondy |first1=David |title=Spaceship Architects Asked to Design Star-Hopping Generation Ships |url=https://newatlas.com/space/spaceship-architects-generation-ships-competition/ |website=New Atlas |date=15 November 2024 |access-date=16 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Matt |title=Project Hyperion Is Seeking Ideas for Building Humanity's First Generation Ship |url=https://www.universetoday.com/169223/project-hyperion-is-seeking-ideas-for-building-humanitys-first-generation-ship/ |website=Universe Today |date=11 November 2024 |access-date=16 November 2024}}</ref> Results were announced in July 2025 with the Italian Chrysalis team in 1st place, the Polish WFP Extreme 2nd, and the Malaysian Systema Stellare Proximum in 3rd place.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carr |first1=Geoffrey |title=How to build a ship for interstellar travel |url=https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/07/31/how-to-build-a-ship-for-interstellar-travel |website=economist.com |date=31 July 2025 |access-date=7 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Matthew |title=The Winners of the Project Hyperion Generation Ship Competition have been Announced!|url=https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-winners-of-the-project-hyperion-generation-ship-competition-have-been-announced |website=www.universetoday.com|date=31 July 2025 |access-date=7 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Revealed: design for spaceship on centuries‑long voyage to stars|work=The Times|date=2025-08-05|publisher=Times Newspapers Ltd|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/science/article/winning-design-spaceship-centuries-long-voyage-stars-cbkpplx8c|access-date=2025-08-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Beam me up, jellyfish: experts unveil spaceships to take us to the stars |work=The Guardian |date=2025-08-06 |publisher=Guardian News & Media |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/aug/06/spaceships-design-stars-craft-interstellar-travel-project-hyperion |access-date=2025-08-07|last=Batty|first=David}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.projecthyperion.org/ Official website]
[[Category:Hypothetical technology]] [[Category:Interstellar travel]] [[Category:Hypothetical spacecraft]] [[Category:Space colonization]]