One such solution that was recently proposed uses electron beams accelerated to near the speed of light to propel spacecraft, something that could overcome the vast distances between Earth and the ...

Ramjets propel spacecraft by compressing hydrogen gas collected from the interstellar medium, with energy supplied by a laser beam transmitted from a distant source.

The vicinity of the beam is monitored by radar, particularly objects that are capable of intercepting it within the duration of an ascent trajectory (3-6 minutes). If something is about to enter the ...

To reach Earth’s closest star system, Alpha Centauri, scientists are building a laser-powered spacecraft. To pull off ...

But for their purposes, Davoyan and his team examine a pellet-beam system that would propel a ~900-kilogram (1 U.S. ton) payload to a distance of 500 AU in less than 20 years.

IN a recent article Marx1 examined the possibility that interstellar travel may be accomplished in the lifetime of an astronaut. He pointed out that the attainment of relativistic velocities by a ...

Tractor beams, Schaub said, may be able to safely move old spacecraft out of the way, making room for the next generation of satellites. Virtual tethers. For Hammerl, the research project is one he ...

A ‘Pinched’ Beam for Interstellar Flight . Paul Gilster Centauri Dreams November 6, 2023 gene1970 from ... be possible for humans to produce ‘pinched’ relativistic electron jets over the much smaller ...

Here’s the gist of how it would work: First, you actually need two spacecraft. A probe blasts off on a one-way trip to deep space, while a second vehicle remains locked in an Earth orbit and ...

Spanning more than six tennis courts (nearly 1,700 square meters) in area, the big sail will catch sunlight to propel a 100-kilogram spacecraft toward our home star, blazing a trail for future ...

The ions, now forming a high-speed plasma beam, push the spacecraft forward. Compared to chemical rockets, EP systems are much more fuel-efficient, ...