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Cathedrals as analogs for planning generation starships

The Nauvoo generation starship from the SF thriller The Expanse. Credits: expanse.wikia.com

Generation starships have been proposed for eventual settlement of the galaxy. How will such a long term project be planned and carried out? What will be the mechanisms for financing the venture. How will stakeholders be organized and managed? Large scale multi-decade (or century) historical building projects such as cathedrals can be studied as an analog for lessons learned to inform future interstellar missions. Andreas M. Hein of the Initiative for Interstellar Studies has explored this topic in a paper recently posted on the arXiv preprint server, with interesting conclusions on modular architecture, minimum viable product and recommendations on long term financial stability.

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Detection of alien Von Neumann micro probes in the galaxy

You Should Know What The Fermi Paradox is Before Reading The Dark Forest | Tor.com
Artist concept of Von Neumann probes. Credits: tor.com

A common theme in science fiction is the application of John von Neumann’s concept of self replicating machines to colonize the galaxy. Now in a recent paper posted on the arXiv preprint server, Z. Osmanov has analyzed the spread and potential for detection of tiny versions of these robots as they move through our galaxy’s molecular hydrogen clouds harvesting material to reproduce. Calculations show that swarms of the probes would emit energy in the infrared part of the spectrum and might be bright enough for potential detection by the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI).

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To the stars with a laser induced annihilation drive

A concept for an innovative relativistic interstellar propulsion drive has just been described in the May 23 issue of Acta Astronautica. The propulsion system uses a pulsed laser to generate “antimatter-like” annihilation reactions in hydrogen fuel producing high velocity K meson elementary particles at relativistic speeds. The method is suitable for powering large starships and could be available within a decade. The authors claim the energy released is 100 times greater than fusion. Because hydrogen is readily available throughout the galaxy, fuel for the return trip does not need to be carried on the outbound journey.

Outline of a laser-induced annihilation generator for space propulsion. Credit: Leif Holmlid and Sindre Zeiner-Gundersen, Acta Astronautica 23 May 2020

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Beyond EmDrive

Illustration of an EmDrive. Image Credit: Getty Images

As reported in Wired, former Eagleworks leader Dr. Harold “Sonny” White has moved on to join the Limitless Space Institute, an organization fostering research into advanced space power and propulsion technologies that will enable interstellar travel. For more details tune into The Space Show on Tuesday June 16 at 7pm PST when Dr. White will be interviewed by Dr. David Livingston

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Interstellar travel using Q-Drive

An analysis of this innovative propulsion system credited to Jeff Greason of the Tau Zero Foundation is provided by Alex Tolley. The method for powering a starship saves fuel by extracting energy from plasma streams in the interstellar medium (or closer to home, from the solar wind) and converting it to momentum using onboard fuel to propel the ship. Although there are engineering challenges, the physics is sound and the savings in fuel enables the system to accelerate payloads to 20% of the speed of light.