Mission Overview

1gSpace initiates interstellar operations with the Alpha Centauri Exploratory Probe (ACEP), deployed as the first autonomous mission element directed toward Proxima b. ACEP establishes long-duration operational presence within the target system, providing environmental, orbital, and surface context required to reduce uncertainty for subsequent crewed and logistical missions.

The probe operates independently under interstellar communication delays, with onboard systems managing propulsion, power, sensing, and fault response throughout all mission phases. Observational priorities span surface and atmospheric characterization, magnetic and radiation environment assessment, and validation of propulsion and autonomous control behavior under real interstellar flight conditions.

1g Constant Acceleration

At relativistic speeds, two effects dominate interstellar travel. First, the ship can reach a very high fraction of the speed of light under sustained 1g acceleration. Second, time aboard the ship runs slower than time on Earth due to time dilation. Together, this means a destination that seems 'centuries away' in Earth years can be reached in far less ship time - without ever exceeding light speed.

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Proxima Centauri

Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the Sun at 4.24 light years, is a small, cool red dwarf gravitationally bound to the Alpha Centauri A/B pair, which orbit each other, yet dynamically distinct and hosting its own planetary system.

Three planets orbit Proxima Centauri: Proxima d, a small, hot inner planet on a tight short-period orbit; Proxima c, a distant, cool, massive planet far outside the temperate zone; and Proxima b, a terrestrial-mass planet in the temperate region, tidally locked with permanent day and night hemispheres, where only the terminator zone offers conditions compatible with long-term human presence and sustained surface activity.

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Initial Human Presence

ISV Innes deploys the first small, highly specialized crew to the Proxima b system, establishing a sustained human operational presence under interstellar flight conditions. The mission focuses on validating crewed operations, environmental assumptions, and procedures required for long-duration habitation.

Following initial crew operations, uncrewed logistics vehicle ISV Anglada delivers modular infrastructure supporting extended activity on the surface. These assets form the basis of Eternal Sunset, the program’s first operational installation, serving as a coordination and staging hub for continued development.

Long-Duration Settlement

The final mission phase transitions from exploratory operations to sustained human settlement on Proxima b. A colony-class transport expands the existing surface infrastructure, enabling continuous habitation and large-scale operations within the system’s stable twilight region.

As surface installations mature, Eternal Sunset evolves from an initial operations hub into a permanent settlement. A secondary installation, Eternal Sunrise, is eventually established using locally sourced materials, marking the transition toward long-term self-sufficiency and independent off-world operation.