Going to Alpha Centauri

[alpha_centauri]

I write Christian Science Fiction. I try to make it almost 100% do-able. 150 people are going to Alpha Centauri. The trip will take about 40 years, so they are traveling 10% light speed. I don't know how to get them going that fast. I have them getting up to speed by focusing atomic blasts for about 30 days then switching over to multiple ion drives. the whole system is nuclear powered like a submarine. Is this possible ? What woudl be more realistic ? I have them going inside a hollowed out asteroid for rasdiation and meteor protection... Would it weight too much ? A better idea ?

bobmalcomb@aol.com

[Jay-qu]

Hi Alpha,

The idea of using nuclear explosions to propel spacecraft has been around for some time, Project Orion was a real life study done on the feasibility of such a feat.

You may also want to check out the spaceship design forum for 'The Prophesy' a fictional space ship that takes a voyage to Jupiter (at present) and is propelled by continuous micro-nuclear explosions.