Because there is no foreseeable technology to travel faster than light between star systems it is worth considering the fastest way to power space modules to a substantial portion of the speed of light. Scientists have pointed out that using enough energy to power a spacecraft if the fuel was aboard the vessel would be too massive, the criterion moves to establishing a stream of energy outside the craft it’s ‘engine’ can draw upon to approach equalization of its speed to that of the laser beam, reaching perhaps 3/4s of the speed of light.
Coherent light- laser light travels at light speed. A very large laser beamed aimed at a target star light Proxima Centauri- 4.6 light years away, would need to be very strong and powered by the sun or a fusion reactor in space near the edge of the solar system. There would need to be a way to tap into the laser beam and convert the photons into electrons and possible an electro magnetic field some configuration that would move the ship forward. Perhaps an on board energy converter could tap into the beam periodically to continue to advance its rate of acceleration closer to the speed of light of the laser beam. The technology would in effect let a spacecraft catch a ride on the laser beam’s energy.
When the first star connection was established, star a to b, then a connection could be made from star b to c. after delivering components to build more laser star links to star b for making a connection to star c. The travel time using the fastest present space engine tech is 88,000 years to Proxima Centauri where with a laser beam to provide power for energy to let a reciprocal electrons power tie-into to the beam travel at light speed the time would be reduced to about eight years.
In order for a stable platform from which to send a laser light star link it might be necessary to locate some Lagrange Point equivalents for the solar system rather than the Earth. On the other hand it could be useful to construct a network of solar system encompassing laser beam platforms on the out edge of the solar system forming a rough sphere around it- balanced for gravitational elements of course, and from those platform each sending a laser beam to some point in space where the beams are gathered with mirrors and combined into a solitary powerful beam initially aimed at Proxima Centauri for a decade when a ship is using the tech for travel.
Some future generation may discover the way to innovate the first few laser star links, if the present war-mongering one being led into nuclear war chicken with Russia doesn’t incinerate future generations by actualizing M.A.D. policy.
It might be feasible to map gravitational currents/fields of this galaxy and use them to sail between select areas by letting the gravitational pull draw a spaceship forward toward the speed of light. Obviously micro-gravity sailing technologies might improve when the causality of gravity is better understood. Still, I like the possibility and recognize that boosting start up acceleration might be desirable with a different technology.
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