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Einstein's equations showed that the "projectiles" mass becomes infinite when ever the speed of light is reached. The equation for this is rather straightforward, with one slight exception....it assumes that the mass of the projectile is constant.

There is a rather voluminous cache of data is seems to indicate that this is not true under all possible conditions.

Thus, if the mass of a projectile can be variable, then the equations indicate that the speed of light can be reached and indeed...exceeded.

But that is not the reason why I believe that the speed of light is a barrier. I believe that the speed of light can be broken...in much the same was the speed of sound was broken.

You see, the equations for the alteration of mass to infinity at the light speed threshhold is identical to the equations for the fluid pressure in the inlet of a rocket engine at the speed of sound. The only difference being the Coefficient of inlet pressure corresponds to that of inlet air pressure, and that of the coefficient of light pressure corresponds to that of variable body mass.

And, as you might remember, the X-1 proved what so called "scientists" said couldn't be done...they broke the sound barrier.

Engineers discovered that by placing a cone in the inlet of a jet intake manifold that the air pressure is prevented from approaching infinity.

I don't know how we can do it with mass, and I don't know what techniques we can use. But I do know that while the equations are cold and stark...they show us the way from which we can derive a roadmap towards a workable solution for FTL.

My guess is that we would have a two part system for FTL flight. The first part would be to take the projectile up to the point of light speed. This would involve the use of some kind of mass changing device. Since the mass would be altered, so would the other attributes of such a change including Inertia and center of gravity. Absolute control over these changes would be extremely critical. Otherwise you would have all kinds of unbalances.

But once you reach the speed of light, or very close to it, I propose that the projectile mass IS actually permitted to go to infinity. Thus making time and space unity as well. Thus, creating a ship that can go any where at anytime with no apparent effect of either time or distance on the ship occupants. Thus, once the speed of light is reached, the cratft would be able to appear anywhere in the universe.

Of course how to steer and other navigational problems would arise. But I will worry about that when we reach the point of FTL flight.

Incidently, the history of the X-1 and the mathametics of it is extremely interesting. If you like equations, you'd love the story.

And, as you might remember, the X-1 proved what so called "scientists" said couldn't be done...they broke the sound barrier.

Ahhhh, no.

There was plenty of empirical evidence that the "sound barrier" could be broken. The C R A C K ! of speeding firearm projectiles or the tip of a bullwhip being snapped are both sonic booms, and had been long recognized as such. The shape of the X1's fuselage was specifically designed to take advantage of an object known to exceed the speed of sound - a .50 caliber bullet.

The "sound barrier" was a stumbling block for aeronautical engineers trying to design a manned craft that would safely traverse the speed of sound, not scientists who well knew that the "barrier" was being broken by routine objects on a daily basis.