starship-design: Re: Perihelion Maneuver

[kuo@bit.csc.lsu.edu (Isaac Kuo)]

L. Parker wrote:
>On Tuesday, December 09, 1997 9:38 AM, Isaac Kuo [SMTP:kuo@bit.csc.lsu.edu] 
>wrote:

>> While very promising, I don't like to trust the results of any one
>> research group no matter how prestigious.

>> I personally expect positive results, but would not count on any
>> projected numbers until a full scale thruster was built and tested.

>The main reason I like it is it isn't exotic, unknown technology. It is a 
>lot more likely that we can go from a test bed (current status) to 
>production technology in ten years than some of the weird ideas we 
>typically discuss.

Yes, but I want to discuss even more mundane technological
possibilities, like MagOrion.

>There are several other possibilities out there (such as 
>dense plasma thrusters), some with higher ISPs, but lower overall thrust. 
>If they can be scaled up to provide more thrust, then they may be possible 
>as well.

Even plasma thrusters lack the Isp for an interstellar mission.  In
order for the catalyzed fusion to be suitable for interstellar travel,
you have to count on some sort of advances in Isp.

>Overall, I am skeptical of our ability to make the fifty year timeline but 
>maybe seventy five or one hundred years. Unless of course someone comes up 
>with a breakthrough...

I think the 100 year timeline is ridiculous.  The first missions, which
might be possible within 100 years, would be unmanned.
-- 
    _____     Isaac Kuo kuo@bit.csc.lsu.edu http://www.csc.lsu.edu/~kuo
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