Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mmintl.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!pwa-b!mmintl!franka From: franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams) Newsgroups: net.space Subject: Re: Fuels for rocket propulsion Message-ID: <656@mmintl.UUCP> Date: Fri, 13-Sep-85 21:40:43 EDT Article-I.D.: mmintl.656 Posted: Fri Sep 13 21:40:43 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 16-Sep-85 21:09:54 EDT References: <384@decwrl.UUCP> Reply-To: franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams) Organization: Multimate International, E. Hartford, CT Lines: 32 Summary: Interstellar travel [Not food] While not disputing any of the specific conclusions in the original article (concerning spaceship propulsion systems), I think it is overly pessimistic about the possibility of interstellar flight. While none of the proposed systems is sure to work, I think collectively they produce a near certainty for this development. The anti-matter drive is probably the most likely to be possible. While we don't now have the technology to produce anti-matter at a reasonable price, it seems likely to me that this will be developed, in one way or another. I would rate this technology better than a 50/50 chance. The economics for ramscoops look much better if you assume there are areas of higher density than average, where you can "refuel". As a worst case, you can fly by other stars, so that the typical distance between stars is the limiting case. On the other hand, there may well be sub-stellar bodies scattered around the galaxy, which would presumably have large atmospheres. Light sails using ground-based lasers are another good prospect. You have to set up an installation at the other end if you want to get back, of course. Finally, there may be possibilities which haven't been thought of yet, perhaps because the basic science required isn't known yet. In short, I would conclude that we don't yet know how to build an effective interstellar spaceship, but that being able to do so is only a matter of time. Frank Adams ihpn4!philabs!pwa-b!mmintl!franka Multimate International 52 Oakland Ave North E. Hartford, CT 06108 Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com