The vastness of space combined with the limitations of physics means it’s highly unlikely that we’ll be able to travel to our stellar neighbors anytime soon or within the time-frame of a normal human lifespan. But a new theoretical breakthrough involving lasers could alter that dire diagnosis making it possible for us to travel through space in a relatively short amount of time.
The key is a new breakthrough form Caltech that would let scientists levitate and manipulate objects while only using light. This would make it possible to propel a space craft to our nearest neighbor in under twenty years by guiding it with a ground based laser.
Futurism explains how this would work:
“The Caltech scientists devised the so-called ‘photonic levitation and propulsion’ system by designing a complex pattern that could be etched into an object’s surface. The way the concentrated light beam reflected from the etching causes the object to ‘self-stabilize,’ they say, as it attempts to stay inside the focused laser beam.”
In other words, space flight would now be possible without the need for a fuel source, further driving down the cost of a long voyage. In theory, this could significantly increase the likelihood that we’ll be able to explore other solar systems in search of intelligent life and habitable exoplanets.
Shockingly, this isn’t the only new space travel idea involving lasers. There’s also the Halo Drive.
According to Futurism, “Basically, the idea is for a spacecraft to shoot a powerful laser into a black hole. The craft would then catch the supercharged beam as it curves around the super-dense stellar object for a mega speed boost.
New Scientist points out that today’s spacecraft already use a version of the same idea, slingshotting around Jupiter to get a gravity assist into the outer solar system.”
All in all, whether we’re talking about the Halo Drive or Photonic Levitation it’s looking like our future space travel efforts may be closely tied to some pretty far out ideas involving lasers. Which begs the question: what other crazy ideas should we be considering?!
Is Photonic Levitation the Greatest Idea Ever?
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