
Laser propulsion (Q. Zhang)
Since the beginning of spaceflight, humans have accomplished wonderful feats of exploration and showcased their drive to understand the universe.
Yet, in those 60 years, only one spacecraft, Voyager 1 (launched in 1977) has left the solar system. As remarkable as this is, humans will never reach even the nearest stars with out current propulsion technology. Instead, radically new strategies involving the technology already available must be used.
We propose a roadmap to a program that will lead to sending relativistic probes to the nearest stars.
To do so requires a fundamental change in our thinking of both propulsion and our definition of what a spacecraft is. In addition to larger spacecrafts capable of human transportation, we consider “wafer sats”, wafer-scale systems weighing no more than a gram. The wafer sats would include integrated optical communications, optical systems, and sensors. These crafts, combined with directed energy propulsion, could be capable of speeds greater than 0.25 c.
This program has applications for planetary defense, SETI and Kepler missions.
The richness of the interstellar medium from the sun to the nearest stars (Keck Institute for Space Studies)
Learn more: Directed Energy Interstellar Precursors
The Latest on: Space laser propulsion
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The Latest on: Space laser propulsion
- AI Steps into Space with Part Design and Smart Explorationon March 27, 2023 at 9:42 am
NASA is creating AI-designed parts while the European Space Agency searches for life-friendly planets using AI.
- New NASA propulsion system could send humans to the stars in a fraction of the timeon March 24, 2023 at 4:00 pm
That means it officially entered interstellar space in 2012, taking it around 35 years. But now NASA says they have a theoretical propulsion system that could get a craft there in only 5 years.
- New NASA propulsion system could send humans to the stars in a fraction of the timeon March 24, 2023 at 4:00 pm
The Voyager 1 space probe was launched some 45 years ago, back in 1977 and is now currently around 14.6 billion miles away. That means it officially entered interstellar space ...
- Pellet-beam propulsion spacecraft could reach Voyager 1 in 5 yearson March 16, 2023 at 8:42 am
Voyager 1 launched way back in 1977. A new spacecraft concept could, in theory, easily fly beyond the probe into deep space.
- How a Beam of Pellets Could Blast a Probe Into Deep Spaceon March 15, 2023 at 5:00 am
A probe blasts off on a one-way trip to deep space, while a second vehicle remains locked in an Earth orbit and fires thousands of tiny metallic pellets at its partner every second. The orbiting craft ...
- Space Propulsion Systems Market By Type, Application, Top Industries, Size, Covid-19 Impact Analysis And Forecast 2023-2033on March 9, 2023 at 11:45 pm
Thus, the demand for the space propulsion systems has increased. – The shift from traditional propulsions (chemical propulsion system) in spacecraft to the new generation propulsions systems ...
- Laser Propulsion Could Satisfy Our Spacecraft’s Need For Speedon March 6, 2023 at 4:00 pm
As it turns out though, lasers could hold the key to cutting down travel times in space! 45 Days To Mars on the Laser Laser thermal propulsion is a relatively simple concept, and could get our ...
- laser propulsionon February 25, 2023 at 4:00 pm
conventional chemical rocket technology simply doesn’t cut the mustard. As it turns out though, lasers could hold the key to cutting down travel times in space!
- Space Propulsion Global Market Report 2022: Sector to Reach $22.5 Billion by 2030 at a 15.5% CAGRon January 27, 2023 at 2:53 pm
DUBLIN, Jan. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Space Propulsion Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global space propulsion market size is expected to reach USD ...
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