I came up with an idea about 30 years ago when I was an aerospace engineer.
Using asteroid resources we can build a mass driver, which is a linear magnetic accelerator, in gravity gradient mode around the Sun. The mass driver could be up to several thousand kilometers long. In space there is no real limit on the size of such as structure.
Using solar power, we can accelerate nano-probes (5 kg or so) to about .1 C
Such a mass driver could launch millions of probes in every direction over a period of decades.
To return a signal to Earth, I proposed a very slow rate of laser pulses that would be picked up by dedicated telescopes.
I like this better than laser propulsion. We already proved in rail gun programs that we can build sophisticated nano-craft that take over 100,000 Gs of acceleration.
So, when we got our rail gun up to 100,000 Gs, what do you think we launched first? A Timex watch! It was still ticking when we pried it out of the backstop.
I can appreciate the innovative space probe idea.
However, some SETI scientists recommend we stay quiet and avoid broadcasting that there’s “intelligent” life on earth.
Scientists Offer Plan To Hide Earth From Advanced Space Aliens
www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/scientists-offer-plan-to...
Apr 2, 2016 ... Such concerns have roiled the SETI (search for extraterrestrial intelligence) community in recent years. Some scientists say that, in addition to ...
RE: “I came up with an idea about 30 years ago when I was an aerospace engineer.
Using asteroid resources we can build a mass driver, which is a linear magnetic accelerator, in gravity gradient mode around the Sun. The mass driver could be up to several thousand kilometers long. In space there is no real limit on the size of such as structure.
Using solar power, we can accelerate nano-probes (5 kg or so) to about .1 C
Such a mass driver could launch millions of probes in every direction over a period of decades.
To return a signal to Earth, I proposed a very slow rate of laser pulses that would be picked up by dedicated telescopes.
I like this better than laser propulsion. We already proved in rail gun programs that we can build sophisticated nano-craft that take over 100,000 Gs of acceleration.
So, when we got our rail gun up to 100,000 Gs, what do you think we launched first? A Timex watch! It was still ticking when we pried it out of the backstop.”