http://techcrunch.com/2016/04/12/russian-billionaire-yuri-milner-invests ;
-100m-to-send-a-fleet-of-spacecraft-to-alpha-centauri/
The Centauri system does not seem like the best choice, but given its
proximity it could spur interest in other targets. Barnard's Star is not
terribly far away--relative to other stars. Right at 6 years.
The drawback I see is that these ships get moving fast enough there is no
stopping them, save by impact. A 21 year voyage to Alpha Centauri? The
return signal will be bent into the infrared. Mm, I guess not a lot.
4.5/21 = a bit over 20% of the speed of light. So we sail through the
Cenaturi system awfully fast. We won't be able to park one of these little
ships in orbit at that speed--we just get to snap some fast photos--kind of
like the New Horizons spacecraft (but WAY faster).
By the time the camera is half a light year out the delay from us will be
four years. No way to steer it. It will have to be autonomous. And at
one fifth C even a little camera is going to pack quite a wollop. Chances
are very good we won't hit anything, but if we did the fireworks would be
spectacular.
Seems like a really interesting project.