Space Exploration Stack Exchange
Space Exploration Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [interstellar-travel]

Questions regarding travel on a cosmic scale, from one star to another.

201 questions
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concentrating starlight with mirrors for photovoltaics in deep space

would it be feasible to use mirrors to concentrate starlight in order to produce efficient solar panels in interstellar space? could we produce enough electricity to provide ongoing propulsion?
steven c johnson
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Effects of prolonged space-travel on the human psyche

Astronauts are highly trained specialists, carefully selected for many characteristics, among them their personality. In many science fiction movies or novels, whole populations travel in space ships for extended periods of time. Has there been any…
user1448
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Would it be possible with a light-speed ship to reach intergalactic space in a human lifetime?

I have one issue coming out of one conversation between me and my roommates (none of us professional in the subject of space)! If one had a ship which could approach light speed, could one reach intergalactic space? (Suppose there are no Food,…
hatef
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Breakthrough Starshot?

I am trying to find out if there is any reason other than cost that Breakthrough Starshot is only looking at Alpha Centauri. It seems to me that once the laser system is in place that creating more nanocraft to go to other, even more interesting,…
Jack R. Woods
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Best hull composition to resist interstellar environment (radiation+cosmic rays) while keeping mass to minimum?

Keeping in mind the necessary characteristics of an interstellar ark traveling upwards of 1/10 the speed of light (functioning biosphere with water and atmospheric cycles, some sort of nuclear propulsion, leading protective magnetic field,…
C. Burns
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Does a warped galaxy have any realistic implications for modern space travel?

A recent BBC news article with the title "Milky Way galaxy is warped and twisted, not flat" caught my attention. It goes on to say: Our results show that the Milky Way Galaxy is not flat. It is warped and twisted far away from the galactic centre.…
James Jenkins
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travelling the galaxy within its spiral arms, or 'jump' from one to the other?

If a spaceship were traversing a galaxy, which trajectory would require less energy: cut straight through from one spiral arm to the next, or keep curving within the spiral arms themselves. I guess what I'm wondering about here, is whether there is…
guf
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Best time to Alpha Centauri with Solar Slingshot?

I saw these two links, and they gave me a question: http://www.space.com/35577-looking-at-alpha-centauri-stars-next-door.html http://io9.gizmodo.com/5786083/what-are-the-fastest-spacecrafts-ever-built If the solar probes Helios I and II can be…
EngrStudent
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Why would interstellar space travelers need to decelerate their whole ship?

In many sci-fi novels I have read, interstellar travelers had their ship accelerate half the way, then decelerate half the way. I wonder why this is the chosen approach. Would not it be better to accelerate all the way, then leave the ship for…
Anixx
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Were the Voyager Golden Records tested for being decoded?

I was wondering if the microgroove golden records they put on the Voyager spacecraft, along with instruction on how to decode it, were first put to the test with the subjects most likely to decode them, i.e. humans. I would suppose they were, as…
nmajoros
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Can a planet closer to the edge of the observable Universe see what's on the other side?

I get that the reason we can't see outside the observable Universe because the light will never reach us. But does the light reach a planet closer to the edge of it?
Anthony
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Use of compressed gases for space travel

To travel once in space, not only using gravity as a method of propelling, could pressurised gases work? The ubiquity of gases such as helium or hydrogen being brought into the craft, once compressed could they in turn be used to release pressure in…
Iwheaty
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Why interstellar space travellers would need to decelerate their ship?

In many sci-fi novels I have read, the interstellar travelers had their ship half the way accelerate, then half the way decelerate. I wonder why this is the chosen approach? Would not it be better to accelerate all the way, then leave the ship for…
Anixx
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How much time would it take to go to Alpha Centauri through a wormhole?

After reading a question about going to Alpha Centauri through an Alcubierre Warp I just became curious about going through a wormhole. I think it would happen instantly as far as I know about wormholes. Is that right?
Warp
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