Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story:To reach Earth’s closest star system, Alpha Centauri, scientists are building a laser-powered spacecraft. To pull off interstellar travel, a spacecraft must be very light; therefore, it’s essential to eliminate the need for rocket fuel. To travel beyond our solar system to destinations like Alpha Centauri, our nearest neighboring star system, it would take many human lifetimes with current technology. It began in 2016 and aims to design small, lightweight spacecraft powered by light that can reach Alpha Centauri in just over 20 years. Those older probes would take nearly 20,000 years to travel 4.4 light years (roughly 25 trillion miles) to Alpha Centauri, scientists estimate.