The document discusses theoretical solutions for interstellar travel. It outlines three potential propulsion systems: fusion drives, solar sails, and warp drives. Fusion drives use nuclear fusion as propulsion and could reach speeds up to 20% of light, but require advances in fusion technology. Solar sails use radiation pressure for propulsion and existing technology, but would need powerful lasers to reach high speeds. Warp drives theoretically allow faster than light travel by warping space-time, but would require exotic fuels like negative mass. Further research in areas like fusion and detecting negative mass/energy could help develop these technologies to enable humanity to explore beyond the solar system within a human lifetime.

1. Melvin Hoyer III
Senior Seminar
THEORETICAL SOLUTIONS TO
INTERSTELLAR TRAVEL

2. INTRODUCTION
Biology on planet earth is driven by the evolution and
Adaptation of life forms to an environment in order to
secure survival of the next generation. While the
Human race has only been around on this planet for
a tiny fraction of it’s entire history, we have
continually grown into an apex species like none
seen on this planet previously. All great inventions
and innovations of the human mind have been in the
pursuit of breaking bonds with our current
surroundings in order to maximize survival. This
insurance of survival for our Species lies in breaking
the bonds of our solar system and making interstellar
space travel achievable within the next 100 years.

3. • The space in between stars are on the
order of light years, which makes travel
between them by current means nearly
impossible. One light year is the distance
light travels in one year, with a single
photon moving at 186,282 mi/s, and the
nearest star system 4.3 light years away
Voyager 2 would take 500 years to arrive
by conventional means.
• Only by achieving a significant fraction of
the speed of light will manned travel
between the stars become attainable in a
single human lifespan. However due to
time dilation predicted by Einstein’s
Theory of relativity the closer an object
approaches to luminal speed the slower its
clock moves relative to another slower
object.
RELATIVITY AND LUMINAL SPEED PHYSICS
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1
1 − 𝛽2
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𝑣
𝑐

4. THEORETICAL INTERSTELLAR PROPULSION
SYSTEMS
In order for interstellar travel to be possible new and
exotic ways of travel must be proposed that are
practical and efficient. Three possible interstellar
propulsion systems are the
• Fusion Drive
• Solar Sail
• Warp Drive
All of which present their own advantages and
disadvantages

5. FUSION DRIVE
The Fusion Drive uses the raw
kinetic energy of nuclear fusion as
an exhaust to propel the ship.
Should conceivably be able to
reach speeds of the order of 10-
20% of that of light
Advancement in magnetic
confinement and Sustainability of
the fusion reaction required before
drive can be developed
Low fuel consumption
Reasonable for interstellar
missions up to 20 light years
within one human lifespan

6. SOLAR SAIL
Radiation exerts a pressure on the sail due to reflection and
a small fraction that is absorbed. The absorbed energy
heats the sail, which re-radiates that energy from the front
and rear surfaces.
Using Lasers or Masers at GigaWatt Strength A ship using
this sail can reach a significant fraction of the speed of light
Practical with existing technology and will likely be first
method of interstellar travel developed .
If 60% of light speed is achieved due to relativistic effects a
seven year mission experienced by the crew, ten years
would pass on earth
http://youtu.be/JmxFzzlPi6s

7. WARP DRIVE
• Completely Theoretical form of Faster than light travel but plausible and within the laws of
physics.
• Nothing can move faster than light however shortly after the big bang space itself expanded
faster than light travels
• The drive would work by contracting the space in front of the craft and expanding the space
behind it the ship would then ride this wave of space-time
• Because the ship itself is not moving but space is moving around the ship faster than light no
acceleration or extreme tidal forces are felt by the crew
• This drive could theoretically reach the nearest stars in mere weeks however this faster than
light travel may leave the door open to time travel to the future
• This technology would require a truly exotic fuel either dark matter that has properties of
negative mass or by harnessing the “dark energy” that has been accelerating the expansion of
the universe since the big bang.
• http://youtu.be/_fPmCKt48Zw

8. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
• Developments in pure fusion cores
(TokoMaks) (Inertial Confinement Fusion) are
being made today allowing for more
contained more sustained reactions for
energy needs here on earth
• Solar sail technology already exists and has
already been deployed however the lasers
required to accelerate them to very high
velocities are still in development
• Developments are being made in detecting
negative mass and negative energy required
to operate a theoretical warp drive in the
Casimir effect experiment aimed at detecting
the spontaneous creation of negative virtual
protons between two closely placed mirrors
in a vacuum.

9. CONCLUSION
Although this research is more speculation than applicable
with today's technology with enough time and effort the stars
could become the next great exploratory period in human
history. Most great scientific discoveries began as simple
conjecture and were laughed upon as impossible. However
the reward of developing this technology will far outweigh
the risk in undertaking. Once bounds are broken from this
solar system just how far will humanity spread ?

10. REFERENCES
• "What Is the Casimir Effect?" Scientific American Global RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2014.
<http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-the-casimir-effec/>.
• "The Planetary Society." The Planetary Society Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2014.
<http://www.planetary.org/explore/projects/lightsail-solar-sailing/what-is-solar-sailing.html>.
• Dunbar, Brian. NASA. NASA, 23 Nov. 2004. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.
<http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/technology/warp/warpstat_prt.htm>.
• "Alcubierre Drive." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Jan. 2014. Web. 27 Jan. 2014.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive>.
• "Fusion Power." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Jan. 2014. Web. 27 Jan. 2014.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_power>.
• Singh, Jasprit. Modern Physics for Engineers. New York: J. Wiley, 1999. Print.
• Burns, Marshall L. "Basic Concepts of Einstien Relativity." Modern Physics for Science and Engineering.
First ed. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988. N. pag. Print.