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The most realistic current proposal for an interstellar science mission is to avoid onboard propulsion altogether using a fleet of tiny laser-accelerated probes

The most realistic current proposal for an interstellar science mission is to avoid onboard propulsion altogether using a fleet of tiny laser-accelerated probes. Each one would be a very thin mirror, shot from orbit to the stars by a ground-based laser array. httpss://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakthrough_Starshot

ddalex 8y ago
Something like this would look to the Barnard's star inhabitants a lot like 'Oumuamua
- simonh 8y ago
  Except only a few tens of centimetres across. There might be thousands of them streaming past us all the time and we'd never know.
  - wnkrshm 8y ago
    It's a fascinating idea but I'm not clear on how you would get back data? Modulation of reflected laser light? Active antennas that powerful radio telescopes are looking at?
    - simonh 8y ago
      You send a chain of them and they beam the message back along the chain.