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This paper discusses the physics, engineering and mission architecturerelating to a gram-sized interstellar probe propelled by a laser beam. Theobjectives are to design a fly-by mission to Alpha Centauri with a totalmission duration of 50 years travelling at a cruise speed of 0.1c. Furthermore,optical data from the target star system is to be obtained and sent back to theSolar system. The main challenges of such a mission are presented and possiblesolutions proposed. The results show that by extrapolating from currentlyexisting technology, such a mission would be feasible. The total mass of theproposed spacecraft is 23g and the space-based laser infrastructure has a beampower output of 15GW. Rurther exploration of the laser - spacecraft tradespaceand associated technologies are necessary.

The Andromeda Study: A Femto-Spacecraft Mission to Alpha Centauri