Radical NASA Propulsion Concept . . .

. . . Could Reach Interstellar Space in Under 5 Years

Radical NASA Propulsion Concept Could Reach Interstellar Space in Under 5 Years

Quote:

To work, the conceptual propulsion system requires two spacecraft – one that sets off for interstellar space, and one that goes into orbit around Earth. The spacecraft orbiting Earth would shoot a beam of tiny microscopic particles at the interstellar spacecraft. Those particles would be heated up by lasers, causing part of them to melt into plasma that accelerates the pellets further, a process known as laser ablation. Those pellets could reach 120 km/second (75 miles/second) and either hit the sail of the interstellar spacecraft or repel a magnet within it, helping to propel the spacecraft to huge speeds that would let it whizz out of our heliosphere – the bubble of solar wind around our Solar System. "With the pellet-beam, outer planets can be reached in less than a year, 100 AU [astronomical unit] in about 3 year and solar gravity lens at 500 AU in about 15 years," says Davoyan.

Seems . . . interesting. Enhanced solar sailing?

For me, "hope springs eternal!"

via International Skeptics Forum https://ift.tt/VxRtfeN