New Solar-Powered Centrifuge Concept Could Simplify Interstellar Travel

Scientists have proposed a groundbreaking, minimalist approach to reach interstellar space using a device called TARS, or “Torqued Accelerator using Radiation from the Sun.” This solar-driven centrifuge could propel tiny probes beyond the solar system’s boundary at speeds sufficient for escape velocity, without relying on nuclear fusion, chemical rockets, or massive lasers.

Named after the robot from the film “Interstellar,” TARS employs two reflective paddles connected by a tether, positioned 180 degrees apart. Sunlight exerts pressure on the paddles, causing the device to spin faster until it reaches a critical speed, then slingshotting a small spacecraft—no larger than a phone—at high velocity. This mechanism resembles a solar sail but uniquely functions as an energy charger, storing solar energy until release as kinetic energy.

In simulated models, paddles 7 meters wide and 2.8 microns thick, connected by a 63-meter tether, could be spun up over three years to launch the spacecraft at approximately 12.1 km/s, enough to exit the solar system. Combining this with planetary or solar slingshots, the probe might reach speeds enabling travel to Alpha Centauri within roughly 1,300 years—a significant leap from current projections.

Key variables influencing the launch speed include the material’s tensile strength and the duration of charging. Currently, carbon nanotube sheets serve as the highest-strength off-the-shelf material, but future advances like industrial-scale graphene could enhance performance considerably. Overcoming the challenge of decreasing solar radiation with increasing distance, Kipping suggests deploying a “quasite”—a modified solar sail slightly tilted to maintain a stable orbit around the sun—thus optimizing solar energy collection.

While still theoretical, Kipping envisions small prototypes that could be built and launched by students, aiming to demonstrate the fundamental principles. He has received interest from private space companies offering free launches for a cubesat-sized model, emphasizing the project’s potential for educational and pioneering applications.

As Kipping states, “Getting started now, even with small steps, can lead humanity toward interstellar exploration—something that’s worth the effort for future generations.”