Corey S PowellMar 15

The wild "Starshot" project was conceived to design a probe that could reach Proxima Centauri in about 20 years.

Although project has gone dormant, it has yielded a lot of new ideas (many not widely shared, alas) about how to build a viable interstellar probe.

https://www.centauri-dreams.org/2026/03/10/starshot-is-a-success-part-ii/ #space #science #technology

Show threadCharlie StrossMar 15
@coreyspowell Wouldn't it make more sense to try for a proof-of-concept mission to, say, Pluto, that could get results in single-digit years or even faster? (Might even do some useful science when it gets there, for example by giving us a laser spectrophotometry reflector target occulted by Pluto's atmosphere as it heads towards Aphelion.)
Show threadIsaac Ji KuoMar 15

@cstross @coreyspowell There are numerous ideas for mission concepts using laser sails or high performance solar sails.

One problem is that laser sail propulsion is particularly inefficient at "low" speeds. And by "low", I mean under 30,000km/s. (Several orders of magnitude faster than anything we've launched so far.)

Another big problem is that the laser itself is a humongous expense, so it's good to have alternative uses for it.

Show threadRaven667Mar 15

@isaackuo @cstross @coreyspowell if people think we can fund AI datacenters, they can fund something genuine instead

We have the resources to take care of everyones physical needs and comfort, then we can dedicate all of the surplus to scientific discovery and art, we just need to purge the concept of wealth hording from the human psyche

Show threadIsaac Ji Kuo

@raven667 @cstross @coreyspowell Yes, indeed. But it's still worth looking at what are genuine uses for a high power laser system.

For example, laser sail propulsion is tough for a "slow" space mission, but laser thermal propulsion might be more viable.

Mar 15 at 4:29pmWeb