Eu acredito que você está pensando em um romance de Frederik Pohl de 1982 chamado Starburst , que foi expandido a partir do conto "O ouro no fim do Starbow".
Para citar a sinopse no link da Amazon:
The crew of the Constitution--scientists cum astronauts--had been carefully screened for extremely high intelligence and superb physical qualities. They were to be the first explorers sent to another stellar system. There they would explore the planet Alpha-Aleph and then return. They were the toast of the world press--true heroes, for they were to go where no man had gone before.
Or so they thought.
Dr. Dieter von Knefhausen knew otherwise--for there was no planet, no place to go...and no place from which to return. Knefhuasen had planned it that way. Of course, Knefhausen realized his plan wasn't exactly ethical. But then, he knew the ends often justify the means.
And Knefhausen's plan worked better then even he had ever hoped!
