• Smorty [she/her]
      link
      fedilink
      52 months ago

      No way, really? I thought that would take like insanely super long to even get there physically.

      • @recklessengagement
        link
        72 months ago

        For a human-supporting craft, absolutely. From what I understand, these craft weigh less than a kilogram, so you can accelerate them much faster.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        12 months ago

        I remember it being small probes, big earth mounted pushing laser, and not stopping at the destination.

    • I Cast Fist
      link
      fedilink
      42 months ago

      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.