[bigbob]

Cool. In 100 years they’ll be saying “It’s not exactly beam science!”

[brucedickinson]

it’s cool I guess but it is not going to inspire anyone. You can’t excite people or inspire kids to explore the hard sciences if you keep sending robots and chips into space.

[thoughtomator]

probably nothing the human race will get a better ROI on than investment in space propulsion

[Kirkwood]

Starchip... maybe Doritos will fund this is you let them put their logo on it.

[UCANSEE2]

One question... where is the beam located ?

[Mr. K]

Until we figure out the anti-gravity drive propulsion systems that Bob Lazar worked on at Groom Lake (near Area 51) we will never travel to another star.

[njslim]

Read “MOTE IN GOD’S EYE” - alien space craft uses laser
powered solar sail

[Crucial]

So, probably 80 years or more round trip...

Wait a century or so and that time will be cut down to months or days.

[SuperLuminal]

Not sure what the source of funding is, but NASA funding requires many aspects of diversity and islamic tenets...Don’t see any of this described in article.

[Lurker]

How will this laser be powered?

L

[Lurker]

And how will this sail be protected from impacts?

L