Concept Study for Crewed Interstellar Travel

Crewed interstellar travel requires engineering capabilities far beyond any existing aerospace system. Reaching even the nearest star systems demands propulsion capable of achieving 0.05–0.20c, closed‑loop life support systems that remain stable for decades, radiation shielding capable of mitigating galactic cosmic rays and relativistic micrometeoroid impacts, and habitat architectures that preserve human health over multi‑decade missions. This thesis presents a comprehensive, multidisciplinary engineering analysis of propulsion architectures, energy requirements, shielding strategies, closed‑loop life support, artificial gravity, thermal management, materials science, autonomous repair robotics, and human survival for future multi‑decade crewed interstellar missions. Drawing on NASA technical reports, peer‑reviewed literature, and major interstellar mission studies (Daedalus, Icarus, Longshot, Starshot), this work synthesizes current knowledge into an integrated mission architecture suitable for human starflight. The analysis concludes that fusion propulsion—particularly pulsed inertial confinement fusion—offers the most realistic near‑term path to achieving 0.05–0.20c. Hybrid radiation shielding, rotating artificial‑gravity habitats, metabolic suppression, and autonomous repair robotics are essential for long‑duration human survival. While the technological barriers remain immense, the engineering pathway is increasingly well‑defined.