Comparison of Propulsion Systems to Reach Alpha Centauri

MUHAMMET ÖZTÜRK

MUHAMMET ÖZTÜRK, Muhammet Enes ŞAHİN

Year : 2026
Vol : 5
Issue : 1
Page : 25-37

Today, many different propulsion systems have been developed for use in space. However, chemical propulsion systems are not considered sufficient for interstellar missions due to their low specific impulse values, while ion propulsion systems are not considered sufficient due to their low thrust levels. Although fission and fusion-based photonic propulsion systems offer high efficiency and potential speed values, due to current technological limitations and the vastness of interstellar distances, it does not seem possible for even these systems to reduce the time required to reach the nearest stars, such as Alpha Centauri, to reasonable levels. This study aims to compare different propulsion systems for the Alpha Centauri mission through numerical modeling. Speed, acceleration, and arrival times were calculated for each system, and performance analyses were conducted based on the numerical results. According to the findings, even under ideal conditions, the fusion-based propulsion system, which showed the highest performance, was calculated to take 1,674 years to reach Alpha Centauri. This value reveals that both this system and other existing propulsion types are inadequate for interstellar missions when compared to the lifespan of humans.

Cite this Article As : Şahin, M. E. & Öztürk, M. (2025). Comparison of Propulsion Systems to Reach Alpha Centauri, Aerospace Research Letters (ASREL), 5(1), 25-37.

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Comparison of Propulsion Systems to Reach Alpha Centauri, Research Article,
2026, Vol. 5 (1)

Received : 08.12.2025, Accepted : 24.02.2026 , Published Online : 26.06.2026