NASA, Stephen Hawking are working on a 'nano-spaceship'

PHOTOS: Evolution of NASA's space suit

Yuri Milner and Stephen Hawking are working on a project to send nano-spacecraft to the closest solar system to Earth.

Click through to see NASA's space suits through the years. less PHOTOS: Evolution of NASA's space suit

Yuri Milner and Stephen Hawking are working on a project to send nano-spacecraft to the closest solar system to Earth.

Click through to see NASA's space suits through the ... more Photo: TOM JAMIESON, STR Photo: TOM JAMIESON, STR Image 1 of / 32 Caption Close NASA, Stephen Hawking are working on a 'nano-spaceship' 1 / 32 Back to Gallery

Zipping through space for 20 years is a perilous journey, especially when tiny.

In April, Stephen Hawking and Russian investor Yuri Milner set out to create the "Breakthrough Starshot initiative," a plan to send nano-spacecraft to the closest solar system to Earth.

The duo plan to use sun-powered spacecraft that travel at a fifth the speed of light, cutting their travel time from 30,000 years to just 20.

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Now, NASA is aiding the initiative by helping brainstorm ways the tiny spacecraft can survive its biggest threat in space: cosmic radiation.

According to International Business Times, NASA recently presented their ideas at the 2016 International Electron Devices Meeting.

One of the leading solutions is sending the tiny spacecraft off with "self-healing chips," or silicon chips that are able to automatically repair themselves every few years.

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Self-healing chips work by using an electrical current to heat their transistors, which scientist say will smooth over any defects caused by cosmic radiation.

According to ABC, the project could end up costing $13 billion before being fully complete.

Click through above to see the evolution of NASA's space suits.