DISCOVERIES LOG
“Let the evidence guide the research. Do not have a preconceived agenda which will only distort the result.” ~ Barbara Tuchman
METHODS
To the degree humanly possible, Tau Zero’s practitioners and volunteers find and post the most accurate and up-to-date information related to interstellar flight on these pages.
For each topic-block below, the information is organized to understand the motivations and challenges, list contemporary accumulated knowledge, and then identify what next steps are required to bring us closer to achieving starflight. For future pioneers who are looking for the important problems to solve, these next steps are precisely that.
- Inspirations & important questions
- The latest answers and from whom
- What comes next?
HUMANITY'S JOURNEY
- Why is starflight important for humanity?
- What do our stories tell us about our motivations and expectations?
- How does human nature affect this quest?
- Are we alone in the galaxy?
- Do we have the right to colonize another planet?
- Should we travel bearing arms or gifts?
- Will humanity survive long enough on Earth to learn how to thrive beyond Earth?
DESTINATIONS
How far away is the...
- Edge of our solar system?
- Nearest neighboring solar system?
- Nearest habitable planet?
- Nearest extraterrestrial civilization?
What else is out there worth visiting?
- Easier practice missions?
- Brown dwarfs?
- Free-roaming planets?
GETTING THERE
 For fun, a reminder of an epic tale of getting there, The Griswold's family vacation mobile, from National Lampoon |
- What starship ideas have already been suggested?
- How long would it take to reach the nearest star using today's technology?
- How long would it take to reach the nearest star if we pushed technology to its edge?
- What physics advances are needed to create the breakthroughs of
- LOW MASS- Space drives (non-rocket, propellantless propulsion)
- HIGH SPEED- Faster-Than-Light transport
- AMPLE ENERGY- Sufficient on-board energy for starflight
- How close are we to building and launching any of these?
- What work remains to be done to improve our prospects?
- What ancillary developments might change how we attempt to get there?
- When artificial intelligence (AI) eclipses the intellectual prowess of humanity (predicted 2035-2050)
- Transhumanism - the merging of technology with the human body
- Hibernation methods for long-duration human transportation
- Humans with extremely long life spans
Content Contributors
- Marc Millis
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