Theoretical technique could propel spacecraft between .5 and 2% of lightspeed.

1st Source: Dynamic soaring as a means to exceed the solar wind speed

2nd Source: Scientists Devise Faster Method of Interstellar Space Travel Based on Seabird Gliding

After decades of space exploration, humanity’s reach has still only barely extended beyond the bounds of the solar system. With current technology, it would take thousands of years just to reach the nearest star. A recent study proposes a new method of interstellar travel based on the way seabirds pick up speed as they glide between air currents. The team claims this approach to surfing the solar wind could accelerate a spacecraft to high speeds in a short time while using almost no fuel...

The study, published in Frontiers in Space Technologies, claims that “space soaring” could push a spacecraft to 0.5 percent the speed of light in about a month. or two percent given a year and a half. At that speed, the journey to the nearest stars would take just a century or two. Yes, that’s still a long time, but it’s better than tens of thousands of years, which is how long it will take the Voyager probes to reach nearby stars.

((emphasis mine))

((I include two sources because Source 1 is somewhat scientifically specialized (maths) and source 2 is more generalized without the equations.))

It would be a tremendous improvement over current propulsion techniques and may be a prudent path forward for development and research efforts.

The speed/time element of space travel is the most daunting given the distances we are going to have to cross. I find it somehow 'organic' that the observations of birds in flight may provide us with clues about space travel. My initial education in space matters was the kind where "space is a vacuum devoid of anything, full of nothing." But solar wind and plasma currents are definitely not "nothing."

Albatrosses can stay airborne for months without flapping their wings (Richardson, 2011; Gao et al., 2015). To achieve this feat, albatrosses use a technique called dynamic soaring. They oscillate between a fast wind region and a slower wind region, extracting energy from the wind. Through this process they are able to gain both altitude and speed. Through the gain in altitude, birds are able to store energy and reduce their velocity in the faster wind region, increasing the maximum achievable speed. However, using potential energy this way is not necessary for the dynamic soaring maneuver to be viable. In space soaring, the vehicle soars faster than the orbital velocity required to stay in orbit and the accelerations produced by the propulsion system are two orders of magnitude greater than the gravitational acceleration of the Sun. Therefore, gravity does not play a role in space soaring.

I hope this idea pans out well. The idea of creating invisible "'magnetic plasma wings" to push a ship along... well.. that's remarkable.

a reply to: Maxmars

Still sounds too long for interstellar.

But within the solar system, that would be something. I assume there is some way of reversing the effect to slow down as the destination is reached.

Cheers

originally posted by: F2d5thCavv2
a reply to: Maxmars

Still sounds too long for interstellar.

But within the solar system, that would be something. I assume there is some way of reversing the effect to slow down as the destination is reached.

Cheers

If the destination was large enough you could just slingshot around it like a comet does the sun.

I am pretty sure someone is working on a "warp drive" a ship that distort and bend the space around it.
There was a big science article about the concept way back, in theory it should not have a speed limit.

a reply to: Maxmars

I wonder if this mode space travel for exploration will be as a probe only because I can only wonder as to the dire effects involved if humans were to take this journey.

I admit this is no 'warp drive' theory, but it represents an order of magnitude improvement over what we currently use... and the tech to properly pursue the possibility is already in existence.

Frankly this seems like a 'probe' only kind of thing, since it would still be centuries to travel to the nearest stars... but that is better than millennia as it stands now. But .5-2% lightspeed is worthy of consideration, if only as a baby step towards something better. Of course, that's assuming the theory holds out and it is possible to adapt "dynamic soaring" to the environment outside planetary interference.

originally posted by: quintessentone
a reply to: Maxmars

I wonder if this mode space travel for exploration will be as a probe only because I can only wonder as to the dire effects involved if humans were to take this journey.

That problem could be solved with the concept that is presented in the sci-fi movie Voyagers.

Plot:

In 2063, astrophysicists on a climate-change-ravaged Earth find a habitable planet. A scouting mission is sent, although the roughly 86-year flight means that the grandchildren of the launch crew astronauts will be the ones who reach the planet.

a reply to: Maxmars

I like the idea of an “EM solar wind sail”!!!

And one could always combine it with other propulsion technologies like ion or plasma. Basically anything that can get your craft moving!!

I get the “perpendicular” aspect but with EM is not a torroid (donut) shape better!?? You can get use of the entire ring’s EM surface to get “perpendicular lift” (dynamic soaring).

Maybe even “saucer shaped” might be better???!

Just me spit balling… prolly figure out some triangle configuration (with torroids at the corners, prolly giving off Cherknov (sp? Drinking barelywine!) radiation in a white-blue color…)



ETA: Voxels!! As MIT/NASA demonstrated with “variable aircraft wings” to add flight characteristics/control and fuel efficiency to airplanes, then, if this is really inspired by albatross flight, then there you go!!!

a reply to: Maxmars

How do you not run into crap when you're going that fast? It'll need one hell of a frontal scanning system and maybe lasers to ablate the little stuff a few hundred meters before the craft so it can keep it's speed up.

a reply to: HorrorRoach

Uh, have you ever seen Star Trek??

They called them “deflector shields” and created an EM bubble around the ship.

Now, here’s a stretch of thought, “what if you could ‘blow off’ the surrounding Universe?? (Don’t immediately laugh, Dr. Pias already has a pattant to equip a triangular shaped craft with the same)??

No “gravitic interactions with the surrounding frame of reference “universe”!). And then, no “micro particles” hitting your craft; it is like soap in water!)??

See, “basic physics” does not apply when you deal with quantum mechanics (QM)!

As the computer tells you, “think differently”?!

The entire concept of using an energy field as a controllable surface seems amazing to me. Honestly, I had not considered that shaping of the field was even within the realm of 'controllable.'

I am stumped about reaching relativistic speed (velocity?) and dealing with errant particles in your path. The time between sensing a obstacle and dealing with it has to be infinitesimal. And if there is no way to deflect it..., how can you survive it? I mean I am no physicist, so the answer may be beyond my understanding. I'm just glad the specialists are looking at this and thinking about it.

a reply to: Spacespider

If we also take into account the movie "Passengers" the thought of just how many things could go wrong is just alarming.