Fermi Explorer Set To Launch Humanity’s First Journey To Another Star

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 1, 2026--

The Fermi Explorer Mission, a new nonprofit, unveiled today its roadmap to launch humanity’s first spacecraft to another star system by 2029.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260901669444/en/

Instead of needing billions of dollars, or propulsion breakthroughs that may take generations to develop, the nonprofit is designing around flight-proven electric propulsion and the constraints of what can be built today. Fermi Explorer aims to launch by the end of 2029, and the journey toward Alpha Centauri is expected to span roughly 80,000 years (as shown in the concept video ).

That timeline is not an argument against the mission. It is the reason to begin.

“We hope to be both the first to leave and the last to arrive at Alpha Centauri. None of us will be here when this journey ends, and that is the point. It's about taking the first achievable step and inspiring future generations to keep pushing beyond the limits we inherited.”
-Philip Johnston, Co-Founder & President of The Fermi Explorer Mission

Satellite manufacturers will be invited to bid on the mission with the following 4 goals:

The Fermi Explorer team has designed a feasible mission profile as detailed here, though they are open to new ideas from the satellite manufacturers. The team also worked with a new physical AI lab called PSI - Physical Super Intelligence, which conducted a feasibility study and devised the final ‘perihelion pump’ maneuver, as detailed in their report here.

There will soon be a three-month solicitation period for proposals for scientific and artistic payloads to be added to the mission. The mission also plans to include a copy of the Golden Record, as well as messages from children around the world for future civilizations.

Fermi Explorer plans to open-source its research, analysis, data, and simulation tools so scientists, engineers, educators, students, and curious contributors can test assumptions, improve the mission, and propose useful science for the journey. A child who discovers the project today should be able to learn from it, contribute to it, and watch it launch before graduating from high school.

The mission has picked up some early supporters, including Rob Meyerson, former President of Blue Origin, and Alex Wissner-Gross, MIT physicist and investor. The organization is inviting people to participate by either donating to the mission and/or contributing research and technical expertise, scientific and artistic proposals.

“The most inspiring part of this mission is that people do not have to wait for permission or perfect conditions,” said Garrett Jameson, former US Air Force officer who leads day-to-day execution. “We can embrace the constraints, build what is possible now, and give the next generation something meaningful to build upon.”

Learn more, contribute, or follow the mission at fermiexplorer.org.

About Fermi Explorer

Fermi Explorer Mission is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that will launch humanity’s first spacecraft to another star.

Fermi Explorer Co-Founder & President, Philip Johnston, pointing at the exact star, Alpha Centauri, the target of the mission, with the Milky Way in view. Taken July, 2026 by astrophotographer, Alexis Trigo, in the Atacama Desert, Chile, with 20-second exposure.

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A drone hit and sank a cargo vessel in the Black Sea on Friday, killing one crew member and leaving three missing, officials said, in the latest attack on commercial shipping in the region that has raised fears of an escalation in Russia's war against Ukraine.

Romanian naval authorities said that a search and rescue mission was underway after the ship caught fire and sank about 13 nautical miles (15 miles) east of the port city of Constanta, near Romania's territorial waters. The crew consisted of 10 Ukrainian citizens and three Azerbaijanis. Nine were rescued.

“This attack is a new example of the tragic consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine,” Romanian President Nicusor Dan said. “It is time for Russia to take peace initiatives of the United States and Europe seriously, accept the ceasefire proposals and end the war.”

At least seven other cargo vessels have been attacked this month off the Black Sea coasts of NATO members Romania and Bulgaria, leaving two people dead and 25 missing.

Video released by the Interior Ministry showed only the ship's hull protruding above the surface in rough seas.

The naval authority identified the ship as the Comoros-flagged Khoryv, which the shipping data website MarineTraffic shows departed Turkey on Oct. 21 and was headed for Romania’s Sulina port.

“Rescue teams continue search operations to identify and rescue the other three crew members,” the naval authority said, adding that it wasn't possible to deploy a helicopter due to unfavorable weather conditions and low visibility.

On Saturday, Romanian pilots on air policing duties shot down two drones in Romania’s territorial waters over the Black Sea.

This image from video provided by Romanian Ministry For Internal Affairs shows a ship that capsized after a drone attack in the Black Sea, about 13 nautical miles (15 miles) east of the port city of Constanta, near Romania's territorial waters. on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (Romanian Ministry For Internal Affairs via AP)