ABOUT TAU ZERO
"While reaching for the stars, we will create benefits with every step"
 
 
 

Using the dream of reaching other worlds as both a long-range goal and a catalyst for near-term progress, the Tau Zero Foundation supports incremental advancements in science, technology, and education. As a private nonprofit (501c3) corporation, supported mainly through philanthropic donations, the Foundation seeks out and directs support to the best practitioners who can make credible progress toward this incredible goal and educate the public during this journey of discovery.

  
 
     
 

WHY
There are two aspects behind "why." The first is why pursue interstellar flight, and the second is why does this quest need a Foundation?

For as long as humanity has known that those twinkling lights in the night sky are other suns, there has been a yearning to reach the stars. This motivation is both visceral and rational. The allure of the unknown is reflected in the science fiction of our time, which itself is instrumental in inspiring students to become pioneers. It also touches on the deepest meaning of what we are as a species and our place in the Universe. On the rational side, the enormous benefits of practical interstellar flight should be obvious. Not only would it free humanity from having just one safe haven, but it would also generate profound technological spin-offs. Imagine it. From achieving practical interstellar flight, breakthroughs in energy conversion, transportation, and sustainable habitats would become available both for use on Earth and to expand the human presence beyond. And in the near-term, it is hoped that the very pursuit of such ambitions will give hope for the future, reminding us of our shared humanity and affirming that there is a future worth working toward.

  
 
Ad Astra! Exploration touches on the deepest meaning of what we are as a species and our place in the Universe.
Credit: A.D.S. for the Tau Zero Foundation
Regarding the need for a Foundation, this quest is not being pursued in ernest by space agencies, industry, academia, or other professional societies. It is a pursuit deemed too far from fruition to garner institutional sponsorship. Regardless, individual pioneers in all those organizations know that it is important for humanity to make progress now, and that this is an ideal, inspired goal through which to engage the public on how science and technology affects everyone's life. Under such conditions the venue of a nonprofit charitable Foundation is the best way to start. Also, this Foundation is free of many of the bureaucratic impediments that limit what the larger organizations are allowed to do. We can break from the familiar to seek the breakthroughs that will change everything. (more)

ACTIVITIES
The core of the Foundation is a network of professionals covering a complementary span of disciplines and sharing the common goal of making progress toward practical interstellar flight. This includes scientists and engineers working the technical challenges, sociologists and anthropologists addressing the implications for humanity, journalists and educators who inform the public on technical progress and its consequences, science fiction writers and producers who use this material to inspire future generations, and entrepreneurs who keep an eye open for revenue generation. Initially a network of volunteers, they simply share their progress, insights and assistance and post their progress on this public website.

Once sufficient funding is secured, cycles of research will be supported through competitive selections. Within these, scholarships will also be offered to help develop promising students. Also, to encourage more risk-taking credible research, cash awards will be given to those who have demonstrated the appropriate blend of vision and rigor in their work. (more)
HOW DIFFERENT FROM THE PACK
Unlike most private space organizations, the Tau Zero Foundation is not an advocacy group. We are not trying to convince the government to show more wisdom by consistently investing in humanity's future. (One seemingly impossible challenge at a time is quite enough, thank you). Instead, the primary purpose of this Foundation is research and education, starting with our team of volunteer professionals, and with support from you, the public. Unlike other research and education groups, this Foundation sets it sights beyond foreseeable returns – namely the seemingly impossible goal of practical interstellar flight. By reaching beyond, we open the way for discoveries that the others aren't even looking for. Along similar lines, the allure and thought-provoking power of science fiction will be deliberately used. But unlike entertainment-only science-fiction (and folklore enthusiasts), we apply reason and rigor to extract workable insights from which to produce reliable progress. (more)
WHO
The creative driving force behind this Foundation is Marc G. Millis, a rocket scientist who co-founded the volunteer "Vision-21" group within Lewis Research Center (1990-1994), served as an advisor and editor for the Interstellar Propulsion Society (1995), and founded and led NASA’s Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Project (1996-2002). Millis has secured the commitment from roughly 3-dozen other professionals to work toward this shared cause, including scientists, engineers, educators, fiction authors, journalists, and artists. This includes journalist Paul Gilster whose Centauri Dreams site keeps abreast of interstellar developments, entrepreneur Walter de Brouwer who is the Foundation's first benefactor and advisor, and artist/journalist Alexandre Szames whose designs are setting the visual identity for the Foundation. (more)
HISTORY
This Foundation was born from informal collaborations amongst a core group of researchers who stayed in touch over the years, through thick and thin. Prior attempts at organizations added to the experiences that have led to this Foundation. Finally, with the tools of the Internet well established, we can work together and bring you our progress. (more)

CONTRIBUTIONS & CONTACT
If you like what you've seen, please realize that we can do more with your support. Please donate. We also welcome corrections and additional material for this site. Although we strive to post the most reliable, current, and impartial information, this site will occasionally contain errors, omissions, and debatable opinions. A major caveat, however, is that we will only consider additional information that has already been screened through normal peer-reviewed publications.

If you are already an established professional whose work might aid this cause (day job or self-motivated), please alert us to your peer-reviewed publications. We already have more information in reserve than we've been able to post, but we also know that we can't catch all the best relevant works as they emerge without a little extra help. Also note that when we've secured substantial funding, we will invite research proposals, and prior publications will be one of the scoring criteria.

If you are a student, please do your best in school and revisit this site occasionally to see progress. To aid you in making your own informed decisions, we will provide citations to deeper resources that you can study. From there, it's up to you to dig deeper and think for yourself. To provide a venue where students and outside professionals can post relevant content, please avail yourselves of the Wikipedia "Interstellar Travel" site. Although we will not moderate this site, nor do we assume any responsibility for its content, this is a place for public postings that we monitor for promising contributions.

Due to the overwhelming responses that this topic has already generated, we suspect that we will not be able to respond to all email.
 
 
 
Tau Zero Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity
Your donations are tax deductible
Last revisions by Millis 2008-Mar-03, 7:40 am USA ET
 
 
 
 
 
Copyright 2010. Tau Zero Foundation. All rights reserved.
Graphic + layout design : AntiGravite / Szames for the Tau Zero Foundation