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Project Hyperion - Generation Ship Designers Needed!
Project Hyperion is sponsoring a design contest; present a thirty-page booklet along with sketches, technical diagrams and descriptions of a practical generation ship.
What is a "generation ship", exactly? The phrase was first used in a 1955 science fiction story by E.C. Tubb:
The concept is somewhat older, dating from the Exodus ship from a 1930 science fiction story Tani of Ekkis by Judson W. Reeves:
“As to the ship itself, it must be a new one. We have none either large enough or otherwise suitable. We have decided that it shall be but one ship, of a greater size, rather than several of smaller dimensions. It must contain everything needed to take us through the generations during which we can encounter no help...
As you can see, science fiction authors have made a fine start!
According to Project Hyperion, registration is open with submission deadlines for phase 1 on February 2, 2025 and phase 2 on May 4. Cash prizes range from honorary mentions to a grand prize of US$5,000. Winners will be announced on June 2, 2025.
First, there are two ways by which men can reach the stars. One is by suspended animation as you have suggested, the other is by generation ship, which this is. We have combined both and so avoided the weaknesses inherent in either. The generation ship depends on new blood replacing the old, but the danger is that the new blood will forget what it should remember. Sixteen generations is a long time, Jay. Even with continual use of educational tapes it is still hard for some people to accept the fact that the Ship is nothing but a metal can drifting in the void. To them the Ship is the universe and they just can't imagine anything possibly being bigger.
(The star ship from 'Star Ship' by E.C. Tubb)
The first element is time. It will take 500 years to reach Esteris. We cannot expect more than 80,000,000 miles an hour out of any ship we can build. As our President has explained, there are certain difficulties in the way of a much greater speed. To travel 350 trillion miles? will take 500 years.
(Generation Ship from 'Tani of Ekkis' by Aladra Septama (Judson Reeves))
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