# Project Hyperion (interstellar)

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Hypothetical technology

[Stanford Torus](/source/Stanford_Torus)-based generation ship, proposed by Project Hyperion[1]

**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](/source/Generation_ship). It has led to the most detailed designs of generation ships to date.[2] Its origins can be traced to the [WARR](/source/WARR_(research_group)) student group at the [Technical University of Munich](/source/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](/source/Interstellar_travel).[3][4][5]

Notable results of the project include an assessment of world ship system architectures and adequate population size.[6][7][8][9] The project has also been featured in the TV-series [*Rendezvous with the Future*](/source/Rendezvous_with_the_Future_(TV_series)) (BBC/Bilibili), popular science books[10] as well as art.[11]

The core team members have transferred to the [Initiative for Interstellar Studies](/source/Initiative_for_Interstellar_Studies)'s world ship project and have presented their results at the [ESA](/source/European_Space_Agency) Interstellar Workshop in 2019 as well as in [ESA](/source/European_Space_Agency)'s *Acta Futura* journal.[12][13][14][15]

An interdisciplinary design competition was launched in 2024.[16][17][18][19] 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.[20][21][22][23]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Hein, Andreas M.; Pak, Mikhail; Pütz, Daniel; Bühler, Christian; Reiss, Philipp (2012). ["World ships—architectures & feasibility revisited"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236177990). *Journal of the British Interplanetary Society*. **65** (4): 119.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Carr, Geoffrey (31 July 2025). ["How to build a ship for interstellar travel"](https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/07/31/how-to-build-a-ship-for-interstellar-travel). *economist.com*. Retrieved 7 July 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Interstellar, Icarus (2020-12-06). ["Icarus Interstellar, Interstellar flight"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201214085530/http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/projects/project-hyperion/). *Icarus Interstellar*. Archived from [the original](http://www.icarusinterstellar.org/projects/project-hyperion) on 2020-12-14. Retrieved 2020-12-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** DNews (10 April 2015). ["Icarus Interstellar: Visions of Our Starship Future"](https://www.seeker.com/icarus-interstellar-visions-of-our-starship-future-1769714561.html). *Seeker*. Retrieved 2020-12-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Mirsky, Steve. ["Darwin in Space: How Multigenerational Missions Could Shape Human Evolution"](https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/darwin-in-space-how-multigeneration-12-12-18/). *Scientific American*. Retrieved 24 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Hein, Andreas M.; Pak, Mikhail; Pütz, Daniel; Bühler, Christian; Reiss, Philipp (2012). ["World ships—architectures & feasibility revisited"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236177990). *Journal of the British Interplanetary Society*. **65** (4): 119.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Smith, Cameron M. (2014). ["Estimation of a genetically viable population for multigenerational interstellar voyaging: Review and data for project Hyperion"](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094576513004669). *Acta Astronautica*. **97**: 16–29. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2014AcAau..97...16S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014AcAau..97...16S). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.actaastro.2013.12.013](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.actaastro.2013.12.013).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Fecht, Sarah (2 April 2014). ["How Many People Does It Take to Colonize Another Star System?"](https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/deep-space/a10369/how-many-people-does-it-take-to-colonize-another-star-system-16654747/). *Popular Mechanics*. Retrieved 24 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Wall, Mike (28 July 2014). ["Want to Colonize an Alien Planet? Send 40,000 People"](https://www.space.com/26603-interstellar-starship-colony-population-size.html). *Space.com*. Retrieved 24 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Reichl, Eugen (2012). *Zukunftsprojekte der Raumfahrt: seit 1957 (Typenkompass)* (1 ed.). Germany: Motorbuch Verlag.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Hardy, David. ["Project Hyperion: Asteroid Starship"](https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=1618045). *ComicArtFans*. Retrieved 15 May 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Hein, Andreas M; Smith, Cameron; Marin, Frederic; Staats, Kai (2020). "World Ships: Feasibility and Rationale". *Acta Futura*. **12**: 75–104. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[2005.04100](https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.04100). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.5281/zenodo.3747333](https://doi.org/10.5281%2Fzenodo.3747333). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [218571111](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:218571111).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Faife, Corin (17 December 2019). ["Scientists Are Contemplating a 1,000-Year Space Mission to Save Humanity"](https://onezero.medium.com/scientists-are-contemplating-a-1-000-year-space-mission-to-save-humanity-70882a0d6e47). *Medium - OneZero*. Retrieved 14 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Hein, Andreas M; Smith, Cameron; Marin, Frédéric; Staats, Kai. ["World Ships –Feasibility and Rationale"](https://indico.esa.int/event/309/attachments/3517/4683/World_Ships_-_Andreas_Hein.pdf) (PDF). Retrieved 16 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Scientists Are Planning a 1,000 Year Trip to Another Planet"](https://futurism.com/the-byte/1000-year-trip-colonize-another-planet). *Futurism*. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Feehly, Conor (5 November 2024). ["Design an Interstellar 'Generation Ship' to Spend Decades Among the Stars with Project Hyperion Competition"](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/tech/design-an-interstellar-generation-ship-to-spend-decades-among-the-stars-with-project-hyperion-competition). *Space.com*. Retrieved 16 November 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Harris, Bob McDonald (8 November 2024). ["Contest Invites Teams to Design a 'Generation Starship' for a 250-Year Journey"](https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/generation-starship-contest-1.7378039). *CBC Radio*. Retrieved 16 November 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Szondy, David (15 November 2024). ["Spaceship Architects Asked to Design Star-Hopping Generation Ships"](https://newatlas.com/space/spaceship-architects-generation-ships-competition/). *New Atlas*. Retrieved 16 November 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Williams, Matt (11 November 2024). ["Project Hyperion Is Seeking Ideas for Building Humanity's First Generation Ship"](https://www.universetoday.com/169223/project-hyperion-is-seeking-ideas-for-building-humanitys-first-generation-ship/). *Universe Today*. Retrieved 16 November 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Carr, Geoffrey (31 July 2025). ["How to build a ship for interstellar travel"](https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/07/31/how-to-build-a-ship-for-interstellar-travel). *economist.com*. Retrieved 7 July 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Williams, Matthew (31 July 2025). ["The Winners of the Project Hyperion Generation Ship Competition have been Announced!"](https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-winners-of-the-project-hyperion-generation-ship-competition-have-been-announced). *www.universetoday.com*. Retrieved 7 July 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Revealed: design for spaceship on centuries‑long voyage to stars"](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/science/article/winning-design-spaceship-centuries-long-voyage-stars-cbkpplx8c). *The Times*. Times Newspapers Ltd. 2025-08-05. Retrieved 2025-08-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Batty, David (2025-08-06). ["Beam me up, jellyfish: experts unveil spaceships to take us to the stars"](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/aug/06/spaceships-design-stars-craft-interstellar-travel-project-hyperion). *The Guardian*. Guardian News & Media. Retrieved 2025-08-07.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.projecthyperion.org/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Project Hyperion (interstellar)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Hyperion_(interstellar)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Hyperion_(interstellar)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.