Interstellar Starships -- any good info out there?

[MaTTo]

Does anyone out there have any theoretical information on interstellar craft? I could really use some URLS and some reading. I know next to nothing about interstellar craft going at speed of light, and all that other stuff. And stuff like, why can't we travel faster than light? I'm very interested in this topic, just a little uneducated? A little help hear? Thanks.

MaTTo

 

[Boris]

MaTTo,

There is'nt much information "out there" about interstellar starships, because none exist! But for some "practical" ideas, browse, e.g., <A HREF="http://www.lerc.nasa.gov/Other_Groups/PAO/warp.htm">this site</A>.

In very simple terms, the reason we can't go faster than light is because we, in a sense, ARE light. Matter is only a form of energy and vice versa. Matter hangs together due to electromagnetic interactions. Light is merely a traveling disturbance in the electromagnetic field. Constancy of the speed of light tells us that all disturbances in the electromagnetic field travel at that constant speed. Hence, matter cannot remain matter and even reach the speed of light, much less surpass it (which even "pure" energy can't do...)

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I am; therefore I think.

 

[MaTTo]

Thanks for the information Boris! (-but you didn't have to inform me that there are no _human_ interstellar starships out there at this time).

If anyone else has some good URLs they'd like to share about *hypothetical* information (cuz remember- none exist at the moment!

) on interstellar starships, go ahead and put it on this board.

It would be much appreciated.

MaTTo

[This message has been edited by MaTTo (edited October 02, 1999).]