There exists a number of great web sites and groups discussing interstellar travel at this time.
Note: The yellow links will open in new windows as these sites are not a part of www.ovaltech.ca



How to travel to the Stars

In order to explain the huge number of technological challenges and scientific theories which apply to this starship, a number of excellent outside references have been provided. If you understand the challenges involved in interstellar space expoloration please continue on to the comments below. Please realize though that this device does incorporate all the principles and concepts discussed over the next few pages and any understanding requires the ability to realize how each part plays a role in the whole.



First if your unfamiliar with the concepts of interstellar space and the huge distances involved when travelling to another star, you should read the following articles. They will clearly illuminate why an advanced form of propulsion is required.

Astronomers Seek New Home Closer to Home.
The Washington Post. June 1, 2009.

Nearest Star System Might Harbor Earth Twin.
www.space.com

The first step to understanding a means to travel to another star is to understand the difficulties, limitations, and potential hazards. A look at all the present and proposed methods will provide a solid foundation with which to continue the explanation.



A basic overview of the problems is listed below:

  • The speed of light barrier
  • The immense distances involved
  • Relativity
  • Mass and Energy Requirements
  • Time limitations and paradoxes
  • Gravity


Interstellar Rule

Links Explaining Present Interstellar Propulsion Techniques

This website is an excellent primer if your not up to date with current trends in space exploration and where the future may take us. Covers rockets to relativity. I wish I had the time to produce such information and am glad someone else has taken the time.


The Solar Skiff website : www.SolarSkiff.com

Where is there a better place to start when discussing space exploration then the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA has an excellent site focusing specifically on new forms of space propulsion. The breakthrough propulsion program has been discontinued but represents the most recent legitimate attempt to bring about the discovery of a new technology:


NASA Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Project - Public Information Site

NASA has more specific information about the requirements for interstellar travel at their Glenn Research Center site:


Article called, " Emerging Possibilities for Space Propulsion Breakthroughs

See this more recent technical overview as well from Marc G Millis
"Assessing Potential Propulsion Breakthroughs"

The PBS, NOVA web site has some good information published about interstellar travel on their web site:


NOVA site on interstellar transport

The nonprofit Planetary Society has a large website with a specific section dealing with interstellar travel.


The Planetary Society Interstellar Flight web page

David Darling publishes a massive collection of information including his "Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy and Spaceflight" which covers all aspects of advanced space propulsion including proposed interstellar vehicles and current deep space missions. All known and proposed methods for interstellar travel are covered in the encyclopedia with many images and explanations. The link goes directly to the advanced propulsion concepts, alphabetical table of contents:

Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy and Spaceflight-Advanced Propulsion Concepts




Laesie Works has a great page with many intersting flight and propulsion links and some of the more unique aerospace ventures of the past and the future.

Laesie Works - Maintained by Giesbert Nijhuis



An excellent article by Discover Magazine detailing the difficulties and present engineering solutions to Interstellar travel.

Discover Magazine- Star Trek

This website is an excellent primer if your not up to date with current trends in space exploration and where the future may take us. Covers rockets to relativity. I wish I had the time to produce such information and am glad someone else has taken the time.


The Death of Rocket Science

Advanced Propulsion for the 21st Century - A great summary of space propulsion technology.

A great technical list of all proposed and current Interstellar Vehicles and Probes.

And finally two articles which iare an excellent technical summary of the problems facing interstellar propulsion and the possible solutions being researched.

PDF File documenting the
Critical Problems for Interstellar Propulsion Systems


Current Examples of Electromagnetic Thrusters


Electric Propulsion - Detailed explanation of electric propulsion compared to rocket technology





Complete List of Electric or Magnetic Space Propulsion Systems

  1. Electrothermal Thrusters
    1. Resistojet
    2. DC Arcjet
    3. AC Arcjet
    4. Magnetically Diffused & Magnetically Focused Arcjet
    5. E-Type KHz AC Electrodeless Gas Discharge Thruster
    6. H-Type KHz AC Electrodeless Gas Discharge Thruster
    7. Microwave Gas Discharge Thermal thruster (also called Microwave Electrothermal Thruster)
      1. Waveguide Thruster
      2. Resonant Cavity Coaxial Thruster
      3. Pulsed Microwave Electrothermal Thruster
      4. Supersonically Heated Microwave Electrothermal Thruster
    8. Laser Gas Discharge Thermal thruster
    9. Cyclotron Resonance Microwave Accelerators
      1. Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) Thruster
      2. Ion Cyclotron Resonance (ICR) Thruster
      3. Whistler-wave Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heater (ECRH) Thruster
  2. Electrostatic Thrusters
    1. Surface Contact Ion Thruster
      1. Tungsten plate
      2. Tungsten Wire
      3. Porous Tungsten
    2. Electron Bombardment Thruster
      1. Magnetron Gaseous Discharge
        1. Filament Cathode
        2. Autocathode
      2. Oscillating Electron
    3. von Ardenne Low Pressure Duoplasmatron Arc Thruster
    4. Colloidal/Macromolecular Electrostatic Accelerators
      1. Atomizer Spray Charging of Dielectric Fluids
      2. Colloidal Condensation from Supersaturated Vapor
        1. via Supersonic Nozzle Geometry
          1. with ionization by Electron Bombardment
          2. with ionization by Corona Discharge
        2. via Condensation Shock Wave
          1. with ionization by Electron Bombardment
          2. with ionization by Corona Discharge
      3. Ion nucleation of Pre-ionized Supersaturated Vapor Stream
      4. Surface Condensation of Supersaturated Vapor with perpendicular E-field Ionization
      5. Acceleration of pre-formed particles
        1. via Vaporization of a Solid (C60 Propulsion)
        2. via Mechanical Breakdown of a Solid
        3. via Liquid Chemical Reaction
        4. via Gaseous Chemical Reaction
  3. Electromagnetic
    1. Steady State Electromagnetic Thruster
      1. External B-Field
        1. External Ionization Source
          1. Rectangular Channel Thruster
          2. Coaxial Channel Thruster
          3. Constant Cross-section Thruster
          4. Variable Cross-section Thruster
        2. Internal Ionization Source
      2. Self-Induced B-Field
        1. Internal Ionization Source
          1. Rectangular Channel Thruster
          2. Coaxial Channel Thruster
          3. Constant Cross-section Thruster
          4. Variable Cross-section Thruster
      3. MPD (Magnetoplasmadynamic) Arc Thruster (also called Thermionic Accelerator and High Impulse Arcjet)
    2. Pulsed Plasma Thruster (Self-Induced B-Field)
      1. Direct Contact Electrode Discharge Thruster (Usually called "Pulsed Plasma Accelerators")
        1. Hybrid Coaxial Pinch Thruster
        2. Linear Pinch Thruster
        3. Coaxial Plasma "Gun"
        4. Parallel Rail Accelerator Gun
        5. "Button Gun"
        6. "T-Tube" Plasma Accelerator
        7. Solid Ablation Thruster
        8. Hydrodynamic Plasma Gun (developed for thermonuclear fusion experiments)
      2. Inductive Discharge Thruster(Usually called "Induction Accelerators")
        1. Theta Pinch Thruster
        2. Conical Pinch Thruster
        3. Loop induction Thruster
        4. Pulsed Inductive Thruster
    3. Traveling Wave Accelerator
      1. Rectangular Channel Traveling Wave Thruster
      2. Cylindrical Channel Traveling Wave Thruster
      3. Cylindrical Duct Coil-driven Traveling Wave Accelerator
      4. Cylindrical Duct Helical Transmission Line Accelerator
      5. Coaxial Channel Traveling Wave Thruster
      6. Constant Cross-section Traveling Wave Thruster
      7. Variable Cross-section Traveling Wave Thruster
      8. Conical Duct Coil-driven Traveling Wave Accelerator
      9. RF Fringe Field Accelerator
    4. Glow Discharge Magnetic Expansion Thruster
    5. Rail Gun
    6. Hall Accelerator
    7. Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster




Practicality of Present Interstellar Proposals

Rocket technology is presenty the mainstay of our entire space program. Although some new technologies like the ionic propulsion used in the Deep Space 1 probe have begun to be proven in space, these still require rocket technology to launch them into space. The thrust of most ionic and plasma propulsion systems is just too small to provide the acceleration to break the force of gravity on Earth. Other than nuclear rockets, which are extremely hazardous and toxic, there has been few attempts at new surface to orbit space propulsion technologies. Of note is one interesting scheme called " lightcraft " which uses land based microwave lasers to power a electrodynamic craft into orbit. What we need to really enter the space age is a safe, economical, reusable, efficient and ecologically friendly form of space propulsion technology. This is provided by the OVAL ecotech design.



The most serious proposals for an interstellar vehicle to date have been the Daedalus and Orion projects. Personally I find the very ideas proposed by the Daedalus and Orion Projects completely ridiculous. Both of these use a form of nuclear detonation as a propulsion system. A small nuclear explosion occurs behind an enormous blast sheild. This explosion pushes on the blast sheild accelerating the spacecraft. To slow down the ship rotates around and uses the explosions in the opposite direction. To use the effects of an explosion of any kind, let alone thermonuclear explosions, as a form of space propulsion is dangerous to both ship and crew, extremely inefficient, nearly uncontrollable, environmentally toxic and is at best an engineering abomination. The fact these ideas are still even considered makes me question the imagination and intellect of today's space scientists. To me it seems painfully obvious that the Daedalus Project demonstrates our true ignorance of the Universe around us much more than it demonstrates a viable propulsion system. A radical new understanding of space and time and the world around us will most certainly lead to a much more beautiful and elegant solution to the exploration of the last great frontier.




This video never ceases to make me laugh. Lets send a nuclear propelled vehicle out into the unknown. What a nice thing to use to explore space, a deadly radioactive bomb ship. This guy is nothing but a nuclear filibuster.

How to Travel to the Stars Part 2

Interstellar Probe Design Full Size Image

Interstellar Rule

Link to Contents

Interstellar Rule