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From: john@x.UUCP (John Woods)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Money to burn
Message-ID: <521@x.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 30-May-85 11:20:59 EDT
Article-I.D.: x.521
Posted: Thu May 30 11:20:59 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Jun-85 14:06:28 EDT
References: <1925@mordor.UUCP>
Organization: Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA
Lines: 32

> From: jim@TYCHO.ARPA    (James B. Houser)
> 
> science data in addition to the usual ego stuff. Because of the constraints
> it will be important keep things simple. The parameters?
> 	1. Assume only near term technology and assets. For example, no
> 	2. Must be ready to launch within 5 years.
> 	3. Assume a target star 20 light years away.
> 	4. Intial data must be received from target star system within 100
> years.
> 	Occurred that this would be an interesting thought experiment.
> You can assume the target is in whatever direction you like if it will help.
> Prime issue may be the choice of propulsion scheme. Another question is
> what instruments to carry, preferably few and simple. Any thoughts????
> 
My initial thought is that it may be better to wait:  within 100 years,
perhaps within 50 years, we will be able to do much better than the speeds
currently available (you mentioned .05C, but to get to a start 20LY away in
100 years, you need at least .2C average speed, anyway!).  If in 50 years
we can develop the ability to get a probe to that star in 40 years, you're
10 years ahead by waiting 50 years!

Not that I'm averse to the idea, but it seems that just puttering around
the Solar System for another few decades will be enough to get ready for a
high-class interstellar probe.

Think we could interest Proxmire in a Shuttle ticket?  Hey, to keep it cheap,
it could be one-way!-)
-- 
John Woods, Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA, (617) 626-1101
...!decvax!frog!john, ...!mit-eddie!jfw, jfw%mit-ccc@MIT-XX.ARPA

"MU" said the Sacred Chao...