Jason Fitz

Icarus Interstellar

Icarus Interstellar is a non-profit organisation researching technology that will assist the near and medium term development of interstellar flight. Icarus Interstellar has been formed by members of Project Icarus in order to further these aims outside the project itself. Project Icarus is a Tau Zero Foundation (TZF) initiative in collaboration with The British Interplanetary Society (BIS). Daedalus was a BIS project in the late 1970's conducted over several years, to design an interstellar probe for a flyby mission to Barnards Star. Over three decades has now passed and it is an opportunity to revisit this unique design study. Daedalus and Icarus were characters from ancient Greek mythology. In an attempt to escape the labyrinth prison of King Minos, Icarus father Daedalus fashioned a pair of wings for both himself and his son made of feathers and wax. But Icarus soared through the sky joyfully and flew too close to the sun melting the wax on his wings. He fell into the sea and died after having 'touched' the sky. Project Icarus aims to 'touch' the stars and escape from the bounds of mother Earth. Over three decades have passed since Daedalus and now is a good time to revisit the design study, in light of scientific and technological advancements.