Limitless Space Institute Overview

Summary

This overview presentation outlines the vision, mission, core values, and research programs of the Limitless Space Institute (LSI). It details technological pathways for interstellar exploration—ranging from fission and fusion to breakthrough physics—and highlights internal, external, and collaborative R&D programs alongside educational outreach.

Title Page

LIMITLESS SPACE INSTITUTE

Limitless Space Institute Overview

…GO INCREDIBLY FAST…

Vision, Mission, and Core Values

Vision Statement Advance human exploration beyond our solar system

Mission Statement Inspire and educate the next generation to travel beyond our solar system and to support the research and development of enabling technologies

Core Values Our core values are integrity, courage, and imagination

Our Big Hairy Audacious Goal: Interstellar travel by the turn of the century

Performance Metric: Speed

single most important performance metric to enable human exploration of outer solar system and stars is ability to GO INCREDIBLY FAST …

…GO INCREDIBLY FAST…

…this requires significant advances in power and propulsion systems.

IXS Enterprise arriving at Proxima Centauri b…

Propulsion Technology Roadmap: Fission, Fusion, and Breakthrough

FISSION

• NEP (Nuclear Electric Propulsion)
• POWER: 2-50 MW (1-25 LOCOMOTIVES)
• ENABLES HUMAN EXPLORATION OF OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM
• ENABLES INTERSTELLAR PRECURSORS ~1000 AU
• PHYSICS: Proven (Check)
• ENGINEERING: Proven (Check)

FUSION

• FEP / DIRECT FUSION
• POWER: 50-500 MW (25-250 LOCOMOTIVES)
• ENABLES FASTER HUMAN EXPLORATION OF OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM
• ENABLES SLOW INTERSTELLAR
• PHYSICS: Proven (Check)
• ENGINEERING: In Development (?)

BREAKTHROUGH

• SPACEDRIVES, WORMHOLES, SPACE WARPS
• POWER: >500 MW (>250 LOCOMOTIVES)
• ENABLES FAST INTERSTELLAR
• PHYSICS: Theoretical/Unknown (?)
• ENGINEERING: Unknown (?)

Programs Overview

Programs

R&D for Interstellar Travel

INTERNAL R&D: Eagleworks

• DARPA DSO QUEST $1M grant to pursue R&D of dynamic vacuum model with power and propulsion applications
• 6000 cavity test article

EXTERNAL R&D: Interstellar Initiatives Grants (I²G)

• LSI initiated I²G to support external R&D of advanced power and propulsion concepts
• Funded Topics: Beamed Energy Propulsion, Relativistic Solar Sails, Fusion Propulsion, Spacedrives, Wormholes
• I²G Partners: Texas A&M, Breakthrough Initiatives

COLLABORATIVE R&D:

• LSI partnering with TAMU Nuclear Department to develop 1-10 MWe reactor for earth use, and adaptable for space use

University Partnerships

• Partner with universities to jointly pursue mutual areas of interest from leading edge of power & propulsion related physics to enable human exploration of the stars.

Student Programs

• Interns, graduate students, post-docs
• Summer courses (seminar to graduate course)
• 2021 Summer Class: Interstellar Studies: The Human Exploration of the Far Solar System and on to the Stars
• Week-long class for STEM students, July 26-30, 2021
• Eventbrite registration available at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/interstellar-studies-summer-course-tickets-153690569631?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
• I4IS commissioned to develop class material and teach inaugural class

Education Outreach

• Externally inspire and educate next generation on interstellar R&D through speaking engagements

“Infinite possibilities come to those who believe”

Partners and Collaborators

Collaborators, Academic Institutions, and Industry Partners:

• Texas A&M University
• MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
• UCSB (University of California, Santa Barbara)
• Università degli Studi di Bergamo
• Breakthrough Initiatives
• University of Maryland
• X-energy
• UC Davis (University of California, Davis)
• FIAS (Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies)
• Helicity Space
• Limitless Space Institute
• Initiative for Interstellar Studies (i4is)
• Caltech
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)
• Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
• UnLAB
• TVIW (Tennessee Valley Interstellar Workshop)
• Axiom Space
• UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)
• UAH Propulsion Research Center
• Intuitive Machines
• Izentis LLC
• TU Delft
• The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH)
• Interstellar Research Centre (MMC)
• Stellar Engines Ltd.

Conclusion

Godspeed!

GODSPEED!