Some Informal Thoughts on Relativity and Limitations on Interstellar Travel

Abstract

A summary is given of aspects of special relativity considered to be pertinent to engineering understanding of interstellar flight. In particular, the implications of the concept of proper velocity, the effective velocity for a passenger, are reviewed. Limitations on interstellar flight in terms of time, acceleration, energy, and power are evaluated. Certain potential avenues open to propulsion and energy-source technology to achieve acceptable interstellar travel within these limitations are cited. In particular, the capabilities of electron-beam propulsion and antimatter-annihilation energy production are examined.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA230575

Entities

People

  • Reinald G. Finke

Organizations

  • Institute for Defense Analyses

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Detectors
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Electron Accelerators
  • Electron Beams
  • Electrons
  • Energy Production
  • Engineering
  • Equations
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Light Pulses
  • Linear Accelerators
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Radiation
  • Relativity Theory
  • Special Relativity
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Astronomy/Astrophysics
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster