We've all asked this question at some point: How long would it take to travel to the stars? And could I do it in my lifetime? There are many answers to this possibility, some very simple, others in the realms of science fiction. To make this easier to answer, we'll address how long it would [...]

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From the linked article:In some articles I have read in recent months, Alpha Centauri-A and B are orbiting binaries and the status of Proxima (Alpha Centauri-C) as gravitationally attached to the system is in doubt with Alpha Centauri applied generally to the three as a system.

I have not done the detailed engineering problem solving required to determine the total mass of such a human rated system initiating a trip from the solar system where the shielding, and recycling of water, food and oxygen masses are included. My guess is that the solution approaches in difficulty answering the question: "Can God make a rock so massive He can't lift it off the surface a planet large enough to support it?" But I have done sufficient engineering problem solving (though more devils reside in the finer details to this day) to show that it can be done with a set of ion engines capable of processing 200 to 1000 kg/sec exhaust rates powered by 10^17 or so watts power supplied by a collimated photon beam radiated from polar solar orbit inside the orbit of Mercury. There is considerable sail effect from receiving that much radiation by the beam riding 10^9 kg or so ship. Not usually addressed is avoiding crashing into galactic orbiting objects which do not radiate enough light to be detected in sufficient time for avoidance measures to be taken safely at an above ship speeds of a few hundredths light speed. My design addresses these problems. If one wishes to slow down sufficiently to orbit one of the AC stars, the trip can be made from 10 to 40 years depending on solutions to particle beaming the propellant mass to the ship (or along the path to be taken by it) and to capturing the propellant mass. Much shorter times can be achieved for flybys (6 or so years).

Interstellar flight will be hazardous however it is undertaken (no pun intended) so the largest safety margins affordable must be used.

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For those inclined to oppose human meddling with the structure of the universe or the composition and configuration of objects and groups of objects within the universe, consider:
Whether there is a limit to the magnitude of a modulation of chaos below which order remains invariant? Or, is order but a fiction invented by perspectives applied over finite, however large, time intervals?

This is confusing. As far as I know, the stars are called Alpha Centauri A (the brightest), Alpha Centauri B, and Proxima Centauri (sometimes also Alpha Centauri C).

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"All your bias are belong to us." Ara Pacis
"A witty saying proves nothing." Voltaire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_Golden_Record:

The Voyager spacecraft would take about 40,000 years to reach the distance of the star nearest the Sun, Alpha Centauri at a distance of 4.4 light-years, though neither craft is travelling toward that star.

Hope your family is long-lived....

Sorry should read before posting

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"The beauty of that discussion of averages is that you don't have to be an expert in Apollo or in photography in order to see where this time study "analysis" breaks down. You just have to be, well...not an idiot." -JayUtah

Hi

1.To get to the nearest star (Sun) would take 8.3 min travelling at the speed of light of 186,000 miles per sec!

2. if you could soul travel/OBE/astral travel you could get to the Sun instantly...at the speed of thought,go there come back to your body and then tell your friends what a lovely a place it is for a vacation!! I haven't done this, so you would have to ask a Hindu Fakir!

I have had an involuntary OBE...just try not to panic if it happens to you!!then tell me what you see with your 360 degree spiritual vision in the Astral Body!!

Paul

Close enough . . .

That would be physically impossible. Paul, this isn't Off-Topic Babbling. Please, stick with the science here.

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I say there is an invisible elf in my backyard. How do you prove that I am wrong?

Disclaimer: Avatar is not an official NASA image and does not imply any specific interplanetary or interstellar capability.

The Leif Ericson Cruiser

A few interesting things to note about the article:

If we are talking about tens of thousands of years, then Barnard's Star will be the closest star for some significant fraction of that time coming to a little over 3 light years from the Sun. Perhaps we should go there.

Also, the article made the jump from low-energy ion propulsion (a la DAWN) straight up to the "Project Orion" nuclear pulse thing. There are certainly steps in between that would get to the Alpha Centauri in hundreds of years.

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Forming opinions as we speak

We could use the Witch Drive like in Elite. And a lot depends on relativity, I think. If we humans ever create craft fast enough to arrive at another star within the lifetime of one human then it will be traveling fast enough for relativity to be a concern. Are we talking ship time or earth time? Or banker time? Or waiting in line at Wal-mart time?

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---"Why do things have to suck so bad?" a friend once asked me.
"Because space is a vacuum and that's a lot of suck." I replied.
(Actual quote)---