100 Year Starship Management group picked

Discussion in 'Science and Technology' started by MANT!, Jan 26, 2012.

  1. MANT!

    MANT! Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Per MSNBC

    http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/07/10035158-skipper-chosen-for-starship-effort


    So we can start building the thing then? or are we waiting for appropriate tech to be developed?
     
  2. sojourner

    sojourner Admiral In Memoriam

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    Just around the bend.
    The answer to your question is in the name of the thread.
     
  3. jefferiestubes8

    jefferiestubes8 Commodore Commodore

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  4. publiusr

    publiusr Admiral Admiral

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    This is a good site for options: http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/enginelist.php

    Smoother than the nuclear pulse orion concept is the Nuclear Salt Water Rocket
    http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/enginelist.php#id--Nuclear_Salt-water_Rocket

    Its fringe-worthy--but look how well it does with a 90% solution on this graph:
    www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/images/enginelist/rocketChart.jpg

    Best yet: The advantage of NSWR is that this is the only known propulsion system that combines high exhaust velocity with high thrust.

    Thrust 13,000,000 newtons with 4,700,000 m/s exhaust velocity--a one two punch!

    NTR DUMBO looks more do-able
    http://www.projectrho.com/public_ht..._Core_Nuclear_Thermal_Rocket--NTR-SOLID/DUMBO

    This would provide 3,500,000 newtons thrust

    Now imagine you use that in place of a Centaur upper stage, and have AIMSTAR as a payload:
    http://www.engr.psu.edu/antimatter/Papers/AIMStar_99.pdf

    This would provide 598,000 m/s exhaust velocity. This alone would allow a trip to 10,000 AU in 50 years. Couple this with DUMBO NTR to get most of its useful life extra-solar--NOW you have a souped up New Horizons.