NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
The Centauri project: Manned interstellar travelThe development of antimatter engines for spacecraft propulsion will allow man to expand to the nearest stellar neighbors such as the Alpha Centuri system. Compared to chemically powered rockets like the Apollo mission class which would take 50,000 years to reach the Centauri system, antimatter propulsion would reduce one way trip time to 30 years or less. The challenges encountered by manned interstellar travel are formidable. The spacecraft must be a combination of sublight speed transportation system and a traveling microplanet serving an expanding population. As the population expands from the initial 100 people to approximately 300, the terraformed asteroid, enclosed by a man-made shell will allow for expansion over its surface in the fashion of a small terrestrial town. All aspects of human life - birth; death; physical, emotional, and educational needs; and government and law must be met by the structure, systems, and institutions on-board.
Document ID
19910012846
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Ciesla, Thomas M.
(Outer Space Environments Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: NASA. Lewis Research Center, Vision-21: Space Travel for the Next Millennium
Subject Category
Astronautics (General)
Accession Number
91N22159
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
No Preview Available