Re: Real Life Thrust (was: hyperspace)

On Wed, 28 Aug 1996, Joachim Heck - SunSoft wrote:

> 
>   It isn't.  On the other hand, it is possible either to carry a large
> amount of fuel (by using dense fuels like nuclear materials or
> antimatter) or to pick it up on the way.  Probably the best way to do
> the latter, within a solar system, is to use solar power.  Maybe a
> solar powered laser system?

> -joachim
> 
You could always try the ram-scoop method - giant magnetic fields that 
sweep matter into your ship.  The faster you go, the more matter you can

scoop up.  Interstellar space may not be particularly thick, but if 
you're going a significant fraction of light and have ram scoops a
couple 
of kilometers wide you should be able to pick up a bunch of matter, 
mostly hydrogen.

--Binhan