In this groundbreaking work, Thomas Eubanks proposes using tiny gram-scale interstellar probes pushed by laser light to reach Proxima Centauri within the century. This technology would require a powerful laser beamer, lasersails, and large terrestrial light buckets. The proposed mission involves a swarm of thousands of tiny probes with extreme constraints on mass, power, and communication. Coordinating these probes into an effective whole is the main challenge, requiring a mesh network and synchronization of clocks. The swarm would be able to communicate with Earth through coordinated laser pulses, allowing for significant data return. These innovative techniques could revolutionize space exploration before mid-century, with missions extending deep into the outer Solar system.
https://astrobiology.com/2024/05/swarming-proxima-centauri-coherent-picospacecraft-swarms-over-interstellar-distances.html