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How Long Would It Take To Travel To The Nearest Star?
universetoday.com ^ | 26 Jan , 2016 by | Matt Williams

Posted on 01/26/2016 2:19:03 PM PST by BenLurkin

We know there are planets orbiting other stars near to our Solar System, and many of these stars are similar to our own.

In the future, should mankind wish to leave the Solar System, we'll have a huge choice of stars we could travel to, and many could have the right conditions for life to thrive. But where would we go and how long would it take for us to get there? Just remember, this is all speculative and there is currently no benchmark for interstellar trips. That being said, here we go!

...

The question of how long would it take to get somewhere in space is somewhat easier when dealing with existing technology and bodies within our Solar System. For instance, using the technology that powered the New Horizons mission - which consisted of 16 thrusters fueled with hydrazine monopropellant - reaching the Moon would take a mere 8 hours and 35 minutes.

On the other hand, there is the European Space Agency's (ESA) SMART-1 mission, which took it's time traveling to the Moon using the method of ionic propulsion. With this revolutionary technology, a variation of which has since been used by the Dawn spacecraft to reach Vesta, the SMART-1 mission took one year, one month and two weeks to reach the Moon.

So, from the speedy rocket-propelled spacecraft to the economical ion drive, we have a few options for getting around local space - plus we could use Jupiter or Saturn for a hefty gravitational slingshot. However, if we were to contemplate missions to somewhere a little more out of the way, we would have to scale up our technology and look at what’s really possible.

(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...


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To: abishai

Good idea for cows but what do you have for meteors?


21 posted on 01/26/2016 2:40:02 PM PST by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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To: Political Junkie Too

Heh!


22 posted on 01/26/2016 2:40:59 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: BenLurkin

It was a trick question. The nearest star is our sun. Shouldn’t take to long in universal time units and don’t have to travel at the speed of light. If we do go, I’d suggest going at night. ;)


23 posted on 01/26/2016 2:42:58 PM PST by Purdue77 ("...shall not be infringed.")
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To: dp0622

“When the hell did we start making antimatter and anybody know what the @#$#@$ it is?’

We’ve been secretly working on the Antimatter Bomb. Don’t tell anyone!


24 posted on 01/26/2016 2:43:52 PM PST by 2harddrive
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To: dp0622
When the hell did we start making antimatter and anybody know what the @#$#@$ it is?

Kinda like Hillary saying she would not use 'boots on the ground'.

Except for special forces and trainers...which is kind of the same thing.

25 posted on 01/26/2016 2:43:54 PM PST by The Iceman Cometh (Trumpbots Vs. Cruznadians - the struggle is real.)
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To: abishai
Is Proxima Centauri the nearest star?

Yes.

Proxima Centauri: The Closest Star

26 posted on 01/26/2016 2:45:21 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: BenLurkin

It depends.

If you are sitting here on earth watching the ship leave and waiting for it to come back it will be a very, very long wait. You are unlikely to live long enough.

If you are one of the lucky ones on that star ship then you just might make it in some large fraction of a lifetime. Certainly in a lot less time that those left on Earth.

Yes, this seems insane. But it is what Einstein and boys are telling us.


27 posted on 01/26/2016 2:45:42 PM PST by InterceptPoint
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To: central_va
Traveling at the speed of light is a physics no no.

Only for matter.

28 posted on 01/26/2016 2:47:43 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: 2harddrive

the secrets safe with me especially since i wouldn’t know how the @#$@#$ it worked lol.


29 posted on 01/26/2016 2:47:51 PM PST by dp0622
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To: dp0622
When the hell did we start making antimatter and anybody know what the @#$#@$ it is?

They've been making it for years in particle accelerators, just a few subatomic particles at a time. Not enough to power a flashlight bulb. Also created naturally in cosmic rays showers. It's the same as normal matter but opposite charge. Protons are negative and electrons are positive.
30 posted on 01/26/2016 2:48:24 PM PST by Telepathic Intruder (The only thing the Left has learned from the failures of socialism is not to call it that)
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To: BenLurkin

But on Star Trek there are numerous Class M planets. And many of them have attractive female humanoid inhabitants. And all of the aliens encountered speak English.


31 posted on 01/26/2016 2:50:55 PM PST by Dilbert San Diego
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To: BenLurkin
1) It's "its," not "it's."
2) Why would anyone want to go to a star? A solar system, maybe, but there's nothing to say Proxima Centauri has any habitable planets anyway. And it's a long haul just for the scenery.
3) Speculating, and using the technology available today, I would guess we could accelerate a vessel to what, 100K mph? That's assuming a small vessel with a lot of fuel. We could also use gravitational "slingshots" as we fly by the planets to propel the craft even faster, let's say to double that: 200K mph.

Considering Proxima Centauri is more than 4 light years away, that's about 24 trillion miles. At our fantastic 200K mph velocity, (and assuming a straight-line distance), the journey would take about 13,700 years.

If we had left when the pyramids were being built, we'd be less than a third of the way there by now.

32 posted on 01/26/2016 2:52:56 PM PST by IronJack
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To: abishai; UCANSEE2

The “nearest” star is that big ball of fire you can see in the sky on a clear day.


33 posted on 01/26/2016 2:53:08 PM PST by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: BenLurkin

Stargates


34 posted on 01/26/2016 2:55:01 PM PST by Daniel Ramsey
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To: BenLurkin

I believe a star is a sun. Don’t think you could make it there.


35 posted on 01/26/2016 2:56:10 PM PST by Safetgiver ( Islam makes barbarism look genteel.)
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To: BenLurkin

The nearest star is our sun. It is easier to get there than to Mars.


36 posted on 01/26/2016 2:58:01 PM PST by GingisK
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To: abishai

Our sun is the nearest star.

L


37 posted on 01/26/2016 2:59:10 PM PST by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
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To: UCANSEE2
Is Proxima Centauri the nearest star?

Yes.

No, the nearest star is Sol.

38 posted on 01/26/2016 2:59:12 PM PST by GingisK
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To: Izzy Dunne
They'll go at night!

Brought to you by Carl's Junior.

39 posted on 01/26/2016 3:02:02 PM PST by rawcatslyentist (Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed,)
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To: samtheman

Just hitch a ride with those gray guys from Zeta Reticuli.


40 posted on 01/26/2016 3:02:17 PM PST by Farmer Dean (stop worrying about what they want to do to you,start thinking about what you want to do to them)
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