this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2024
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Theres a non-zero chance we could send a camera-equipped spacecraft to the nearest star and get the pictures back within our lifetimes
https://breakthroughinitiatives.org/initiative/3
So if nothing else, I'm sticking around for that
No way, really? I thought that would take like insanely super long to even get there physically.
For a human-supporting craft, absolutely. From what I understand, these craft weigh less than a kilogram, so you can accelerate them much faster.
I remember it being small probes, big earth mounted pushing laser, and not stopping at the destination.
At first, I thought this would be like Project Orion ("nuke"-powered rockets), as Dyson's math back in 1968 expected one version to reach Alpha Centauri within 133 years
Though nanocraft being pushed by lasers sound interesting, braking remains a problem. Still, if they can prove the concept with a much shorter trip somewhere in our solar system, I'll be anxiously waiting for their next move.