Technology - Progress of Interstellar Travel

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The Progress of Interstellar Travel

The (un)likelihood of extraterrestrial visitation is probably one of the

most debated aspects of the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis, the answer being

an essential component to the validity of the ETH. After all, the assumed

unlikeliness of interstellar travel has become the cornerstone of those

who resist the ETH as an explanation for UFOs. So, does extraterrestrial

visitation necessarily require all sorts of "unlikely" science, or is it

possible to accomplish interstellar travel using conventional wisdom?

"If we at once admit the foolishness of these perennially suggested

"impediments" to star flight, we will be on our way to understanding that

interstellar space does not need a bridge too far. Interstellar travel may

still be in its infancy, but adulthood is fast approaching, and our

descendants will someday see childhood's end"[1].

Opinions on the practicality of interstellar travel diverge, but the

negative and positive opinions are seen to stem primarily from the

differences in background of those people doing the studies. SETI

researchers think that the degree of dispersion of stars throughout the

galaxy, combined with the limitations of interstellar travel as we

understand general relativity, effectively preclude the feasibility of

extraterrestrial visitation, thus believing that any extraterrestrial

intelligence would only be transmitting their love and good wishes to us.

The other group, largely composed of physicists and engineers involved in

propulsion research, tends to believe that interstellar travel is

difficult, but not a barrier, or not difficult at all once technology

progresses [1]. Not surprisingly, the latter choice appears to be the most

defensible.

Quite a number of clever designs have appeared in print, describing

various methods of getting mankind to the stars. These include such

projects as the star probe Daedalus, a robot interstellar vehicle designed

by members of the British Interplanetary Society which uses nuclear fusion

power, or interstellar ramjets which scoop up their fuel between the

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