[alfa015 (OP)]

Hi everybody,

I would like to share with you a crewed interstellar spacecraft which I have designed and called Solar One.

It employs a combination of 3 propulsion methods: nuclear fusion, beam-powered propulsion , and photon propulsion.

Basically, several compact fusion reactors power a laser system that propels a huge light sail.

Physicist Robert Forward already proposed in 1983 to use a 26-TW laser system to propel a 100-km light sail, a fresnel lens to focus the beam of the laser, and decelerate the spacecraft with a secondary light sail.

I propose something a bit different, which is to use to use for example a 60 TW-laser to propel a 5-km light sail that would deploy from the spacecraft after the acceleration stage, use parabolic mirrors that gradually change their orientation in order to focus the laser beam, and finally use a photon rocket to decelerate the spacecraft.

In theory, it could be possible to achieve 25% the speed of light, reaching the closest potentially habitable exoplanet in less than 20 years.

There are of course many challenges, like building high-energy continuous-wave lasers, reducing the weight of the nuclear fusion reactors (and of course achieving effective nuclear fusion first), and minimizing the effects of zero gravity during such a long trip.

What do you guys suggest to overcome these challenges?


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[ Mod edit: This post is being spammed to multiple sites ]

[Bored chemist]

Physicist Robert Forward already proposed in 1983 to use a 26-TW laser system t

Worldwide power production is about 2.6 TW.

Where do you plan to plug the laser in?

[alancalverd]

In theory, it could be possible to achieve 25% the speed of light, reaching the closest potentially habitable exoplanet in less than 20 years.

And then what?

[Bored chemist]

In theory, it could be possible to achieve 25% the speed of light, reaching the closest potentially habitable exoplanet in less than 20 years.

And then what?

The impact buries the remains of those who set out, but succumbed to radiation on the way.
Hypothetically, some bacteria might just survive.
If the exoplanet was capable of supporting life, but didn't happen to have any, you might do a weird experiment in seeding life  and letting evolution run wild.
Maybe in a billion years, intelligent life would evolve.

[alancalverd]

Maybe in a billion years, intelligent life would evolve.

Or they might elect an idiot for a president and all die from a wholly avoidable disease.

[Bill S]

and all die from a wholly avoidable disease.

Possibly one they genetically engineered.

[Bored chemist]

and all die from a wholly avoidable disease.

Possibly one they genetically engineered.

If you have enough stupid, you don't need genetic engineering.

[alfa015 (OP)]

Physicist Robert Forward already proposed in 1983 to use a 26-TW laser system t

Worldwide power production is about 2.6 TW.

Where do you plan to plug the laser in?

The laser system would be connected to the nuclear fusion reactors.

[alfa015 (OP)]

I hope you enjoyed the video 

[Bored chemist]

Physicist Robert Forward already proposed in 1983 to use a 26-TW laser system t

Worldwide power production is about 2.6 TW.

Where do you plan to plug the laser in?

The laser system would be connected to the nuclear fusion reactors magic.