http://www.universetoday.com/2008/08/12/podcast-advanced-propulsion-systems/ Space and astronomy news Sun, 8 Nov 2009 05:58:23 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 http://www.universetoday.com/2008/08/12/podcast-advanced-propulsion-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-29479 Chuck Lam Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:13:31 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=16711#comment-29479 "This is how we'll travel to other stars." Possible, but not likely, unless mankind discovers some heretofore unknown phenomenon that will allow faster than the speed of light travel. However, I suspect the best mankind will do, based on current physics, is possibly travel only a couple light-hours from earth and back. And it is doubtful it will be with a pipe-dream solar sail. How do I know? Simple! Where will the billions and billions of dollars come from to finance any kind trip to the edge of the solar system? What kind of return on investment can the government expect? Of course, this would be a wind-fall pork project if, in fact, such a cosmic trip was voted into reality. Otherwise, where is the rationale? "This is how we'll travel to other stars." Possible, but not likely, unless mankind discovers some heretofore unknown phenomenon that will allow faster than the speed of light travel. However, I suspect the best mankind will do, based on current physics, is possibly travel only a couple light-hours from earth and back. And it is doubtful it will be with a pipe-dream solar sail. How do I know? Simple! Where will the billions and billions of dollars come from to finance any kind trip to the edge of the solar system? What kind of return on investment can the government expect? Of course, this would be a wind-fall pork project if, in fact, such a cosmic trip was voted into reality. Otherwise, where is the rationale?

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