Recently, NASA began to develop the solar probe laser pointer. which is the first probe that can fly into the corona for exploration. Scientists have designed a super-acceleration route for it. The speed of the probe can reach a surprising 125 miles per second, which is more than 7 times the speed of the Voyager 1 probe. If it travels at this speed, it only takes 6,450 years to reach another star. Although this is an incredible achievement, the current development of aerospace propulsion technology for interstellar navigation is enough to consume a generation of cruise time.
If the development of the interstellar spacecraft's power system is based only on the Zyorkovsky rocket equation derived by Russian rocket expert Tsiolkovsky, we will find that the challenges of interstellar navigation become more obvious. Through this equation, it can be found that the necessary speed for interstellar navigation can be obtained, the rocket jet speed is controlled below the speed of light, and a huge mass ratio and mass flow ratio.
The research on Icarus's interstellar navigation project involves the study of the interstellar medium's green laser pointer, the exploration of the target planetary system and the field of planetary science, including the planets existing in another planetary system as well as large satellites, asteroids, etc., and more importantly The research in the field of astrobiology will find possible habitable planets. Although the plan is exciting, its main challenge is still how to solve the problem of voyage with maximum range in the shortest time. NASA launched the Voyager 1 probe in 1977. It is currently one of the longest flying man-made objects. Its current speed exceeds 10 miles per second, which is about 36,000 kilometers per hour. Even at this incredible speed. it would take 70,000 years to reach the nearest star to the solar system.
With the increase of laser power, the possibility of eye damage also increases. The flashing doesn't help either. Visible viscous visible light of more than 10 to 20 milliwatts can damage the retina even if it is a direct direct impact on nearby eyes (where all light beams enter the pupil). This is why portable lasers can burst balloons, light cigarettes, or cause immediate eye damage at close range, and cannot even cause minor eye damage to airplane pilots. The pilot’s eyes are farther apart (the laser beam travels with distance, so not all light enters the pilot’s pupil).