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Such technology, combined with better propulsion systems could be our key to deep space travel. Just thinking out loud.

Well then think about this. While I am a admirer of space travel and wish we could make the journey to other galaxies, or even other solar systems within our galaxay, there is one problem that seems to difficult to over come. That is water. It would be possible to grow food, sending married couples who could reproduce would solve the long time problem, but in order to grow food and for couples to survive long enough to have children they need water.

It is impossible at this time to carry enough water to make a very long journey to other planets.

Mars would be about our limit and then we would be limited to how long we could stay, unless water Ice is found on Mars.

Our real hope would lie in a space warp of some sort, one that would open up a gate to another part of the universe and allow us to travel very quickly to some where light years away. Is it possible? I don't know but it would seem if space and time curve, that such a thing would be possible using the correct math to solve the problem. At this point I don't know what math that would be.

It is impossible at this time to carry enough water to make a very long journey to other planets.

Recycling Water is not Just for Earth Anymore Hardware is flying now. It is the first attempt and it is 93% efficient. Human travel to other solar systems is still probably out. But within our own it could be done if there was a reason to do it. Water certainly won't be the issue.

Radiation and cosmic rays, on the other hand, might keep us close to home. The increased risk of cancer from cosmic rays in space is about 1% per year of exposure. On a one year round trip to Mars, that is an acceptable risk. For comparison smoking is a 15% increase in risk. On a 100 year trip to another solar system that cosmic ray risk goes to 100%.

Mars would be about our limit and then we would be limited to how long we could stay, unless water Ice is found on Mars.

Not an if any more. NASA Spacecraft Data Suggest Water Flowing on Mars We could stay on Mars almost indefinitely with the right equipment and a judicious use of local resources. Look up The Case for Mars or hit one of Dr Zubrin's lectures on Youtube.

However as you pointed out there is a big difference between going to Mars and going to another solar system. On Mars you have local resources to make up for loses in the recyclers. On a multi century mission to another solar system you don't. On Mars you can dig down a few meters into the local regolith and be safe from cosmic rays. On an interstellar ship no such luck.

For now at least any interstellar travel will have to be robots. Largely because robots don't mind radiation or multi century trip times.