W
willpittenger
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Even the most efficient means of propulsion sent into space so far requires one of two following:<br /><ol type="1"><li>That we hurl matter out the back.<li>We rely on some sort of external power source.</li></li></ol><br />Hurling matter out the back causes problems because eventually, you run out of stuff to throw overboard. External power supplies have problems too. Suppose you are riding a laser from Earth with a solar sail and are now 10 light years away. Your sensors have spotted a large object (like a rock) in your path. It would take 10 years for Earth to move the laser. But you have a week. Do you leave the laser and lose all power or hit the rock?<br /><br />If we look at Star Trek, both impulse and warp drives don't rely on either problem. Granted, that was because the producers didn't have the budget of Star Wars. But, I think Star Wars would have been better off with engines that <i>don't</i> throw stuff out the back.<br /><br />Have such engines and/or power systems reach the point that we at least have something on the drawing board? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Will Pittenger<hr style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em" />Add this user box to your Wikipedia User Page to show your support for the SDC forums: <div style="margin-left:1em">{{User:Will Pittenger/User Boxes/Space.com Account}}</div> </div>