Discussion
Eric's suggestion is the obvious jump from the name but I can't see how they can hope to start something like that now yet unless its a relatively "low" speed shot.
The other shot type could be photos- try to photograph planets around stars?
Perhaps they have a method to shoot our own star down and end all our misery? :-)
The other shot type could be photos- try to photograph planets around stars?
Perhaps they have a method to shoot our own star down and end all our misery? :-)
I'm usually all for these types of missions, but i'm not sure I see the point beyond being a propulsion testbed perhaps. They are talking about this probe taking and beaming back images.
Look at the technology it takes for us to get images back from a car sized probe 30 AU away. It's completely unrealistic to expect a gram scale spacecraft to be able to beam images from a distance around 276,000 AU away.
It's simply not a viable exploration mission as there would be no way to get data back from a probe at that distance. We probably couldn't even verify it actually achieved the velocities they claim, or even that it made it to it's destination.
Look at the technology it takes for us to get images back from a car sized probe 30 AU away. It's completely unrealistic to expect a gram scale spacecraft to be able to beam images from a distance around 276,000 AU away.
It's simply not a viable exploration mission as there would be no way to get data back from a probe at that distance. We probably couldn't even verify it actually achieved the velocities they claim, or even that it made it to it's destination.
According to the news these 'probes' are actually just chips an inch long, released into orbit, then sails deployed and puffed into space with a laser from the ground. They reckon they can get one to Alpha Centauri in 30 years as opposed to 30,000 years for something bigger.
Presume Alpha Centauri is 'downsun' for the sails to work?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-3602...
Presume Alpha Centauri is 'downsun' for the sails to work?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-3602...
The usual nay sayers pop out all the time.
Let them give it a go. It will take them at least ten years to build a prototype anyway. And, as far as we can see, it will be entirely funded privately, so nobody's taxes will be getting spent on it.
I think it's a great idea. We should always try things that seem to be beyond our reach. The possible is best achieved when the impossible is aimed for.
Let them give it a go. It will take them at least ten years to build a prototype anyway. And, as far as we can see, it will be entirely funded privately, so nobody's taxes will be getting spent on it.
I think it's a great idea. We should always try things that seem to be beyond our reach. The possible is best achieved when the impossible is aimed for.
I'm sure having software that can recognise star patterns is no big deal. It's already being done now.
Unlike space elevators, the good thing about this particular project is that it does not need any major breakthrough in materials or technology. All the basic stuff exists already. All they need to do is build it and see how it works.
Unlike space elevators, the good thing about this particular project is that it does not need any major breakthrough in materials or technology. All the basic stuff exists already. All they need to do is build it and see how it works.
How do you envisage them transmitting back to Earth? I doubt we'd see the signal from a chip-sized antenna (I wonder if it is "chip" sized or "chip package" sized in reality).
Maybe they plan to make the sail perform double duty as a reflector?
Or perhaps they have a Part 2 for the project, while the probes are enroute they will deploy repeater stations ...
Maybe they plan to make the sail perform double duty as a reflector?
Or perhaps they have a Part 2 for the project, while the probes are enroute they will deploy repeater stations ...
The sail certainly could be used as a communications dish. Obviously, they would need a certain amount of electrical power to allow the transmissions to be received back on earth at the great distances involved.
Traditionally, outer Solar System probes such as the Voyagers, Cassini, New Horizons etc have used Radioactive Thermal Generators (RTGs) to do this but I doubt they'll be able to make a nano-RTG (although you never know). I reckon the power will come from the laser signal itself.
For the record, the RTGs on the two Voyagers have now been operating successfully for the best part of 40 years - so that would enable an RTG to power a probe that could reach Alpha Centauri in the time scale envisaged by this project.
Traditionally, outer Solar System probes such as the Voyagers, Cassini, New Horizons etc have used Radioactive Thermal Generators (RTGs) to do this but I doubt they'll be able to make a nano-RTG (although you never know). I reckon the power will come from the laser signal itself.
For the record, the RTGs on the two Voyagers have now been operating successfully for the best part of 40 years - so that would enable an RTG to power a probe that could reach Alpha Centauri in the time scale envisaged by this project.
Did the RTG not have to be stuck out on a boom though, although I think that was to avoid the heat upsetting the instruments rather than because of radiation damaging the chips?
Maybe the solar sail will perform triple duty as a solar panel too. No space for batteries on these chips. The laser is going to be quite diffuse by the time it reaches interstellar space.
All looks interesting.
Maybe the solar sail will perform triple duty as a solar panel too. No space for batteries on these chips. The laser is going to be quite diffuse by the time it reaches interstellar space.
All looks interesting.
Eric Mc said:
I reckon the power will come from the laser signal itself.
The laser would be incredibly diffuse at 4 light years distant.They use lasers now to do range finding measurements to retro reflectors on the moon - but even the tightly focussed beam of the laser has spread out so much over a distance of several hundred thousand km that they only get a few photons back.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_Laser_Ranging_...
Challenges here: http://breakthroughinitiatives.org/Challenges/3
Answers a lot of the questions we had (shame it was so hard to find)
They plan to use the launch array to receive the signal. The launch array not being a single laser ...
Answers a lot of the questions we had (shame it was so hard to find)
They plan to use the launch array to receive the signal. The launch array not being a single laser ...
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