INFOGRAPHIC: Hello, neighbour

Through the project Breakthrough Starshot, scientists aim to reach the nearest star to our sun — Alpha Centauri. At 40 trillion kilometres (4.37 light years) away, today’s fastest spacecraft would take about 30,000 years to get there. Breakthrough aims to travel the distance in just 20 years, pioneering a new laser propelled nanocraft that could travel at 20 per cent the speed of light