Project: Icarus

Project Icarus wasn’t a project to build a spacecraft *named* Icarus, but rather a **theoretical engineering study** focused on designing a **fusion-powered interstellar spacecraft**.

Here’s a breakdown:

* **Goal:** The primary aim of Project Icarus was to design a spacecraft capable of reaching a star system within 100 light-years of Earth within a human lifetime.

* **Propulsion:** The project focused on using **fusion propulsion**, a technology still under development, as the primary means of achieving the immense speeds required for interstellar travel.

* **Timeline:**  Project Icarus ran from 2009 to 2014 and was a joint effort between the **British Interplanetary Society** and the **Tau Zero Foundation**.

* **Legacy:** While not a blueprint for an actual spacecraft, Project Icarus served as a significant

**intellectual exercise**, pushing the boundaries of theoretical spacecraft design and inspiring further research into interstellar travel. It laid the groundwork for **Project Dragonfly**, a follow-up study focused on laser-propelled interstellar probes.

**Key takeaways:**

* Project Icarus was a theoretical study, not an actual spacecraft construction project.

* It focused on designing a fusion-powered spacecraft for interstellar travel.

* The project significantly advanced our understanding of the challenges and possibilities of interstellar travel.


Conclusion:  The purpose of the Icarus project was to create the first truly interstellar fusion based spacecraft capable of reaching a star system 100 light-years from earth in a human life span.