3 ms·
The big problem with near-light speed travel like the one suggested by Lubin is the potentially fatal interaction of the spacecraft with interstellar dust. Even
by ziotom78 5y ago
The big problem with near-light speed travel like the one suggested by Lubin is the potentially fatal interaction of the spacecraft with interstellar dust. Even considering their faint density, the long journey would make the spacecraft interact with far too many high-speed dust particles, which would likely cause significant damage.
I do not know if somebody devised a solution to this fundamental problem; if not, I am extremely skeptical about highly-accelerated spacecrafts.
- MR4D 5y agoPeople really don’t get this, unfortunately. I always think that if f=ma, then as velocity approaches light speed, the deceleration of the grain of sand as it hits the hull approaches infinity. So even with a small mass, the force is huge.
- ziotom78 5y agoYes, being a high-speed particle particle you should use relativistic momentum to describe the hit, but the idea is the same.
- jtsiskin 5y agoSend a few thousand ships to clear the way and find the safest path first?
- ziotom78 5y agoUnfortunately there is no safest path. In free space, like in my home, dust is everywhere.
- nradov 5y agoThe usual sci-fi novel approach is to construct a thick ice shield on the bow of the ship. Not sure if that would really work.