[ExI] Beamed Propulsion Could Push Us to Proxima Centauri?

[BillK]

On Thu, 4 Jul 2024 at 02:19, Brent Allsop via extropy-chat
<extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
> Exciting!
> So when do we get some interstellar probes started?
> _______________________________________________


Gemma 2 AI says 50 to 100 years is the optimistic estimate.
Could well be longer.

First, you need to develop a revolutionary propulsion system.
Present rockets and laser beam systems are not good enough.
Especially if you want the probe to loiter around studying the Proxima
system, rather than just streaking past at high speed.

Then you need better shielding for protection on the long journey.
And a power source to keep the probe alive for decades, or even centuries.
And better scientific instruments and AI controller to enable the
probe to obtain data and send it back to earth.
The 4-year light-speed transmission time from earth means that the
probe must be completely autonomous.
All this will require much funding and years of development support.

But then developments after the Singularity may drastically change all
our estimates.  :)

BillK