Interstellar Flight: Building a Foundation

Paul A. Gilster, Les Johnson
Tau Zero Foundation

Abstract

Created in 2005, the Tau Zero Foundation was developed with a charter to support studies in interstellar flight. It has only been within the last fifty years that scientists have begun looking at realistic options for interstellar journeys. We now have at our disposal a rich body of theoretical studies covering propulsion possibilities within the realm of known physics. The wide variety of propulsion options will be discussed, from solar sails to laser- or microwave-driven 'lightsails,' magnetic sails pushed by particle beams, ion propulsion, interstellar 'ramjets,' and fusion- powered craft. Concepts like the Orion nuclear rocket will be presented, along with Project Daedalus, the first attempt to develop an exhaustive design study for an interstellar probe. But rich as these concepts may be, interstellar studies still operates on the back burner, a side activity for scientists who are contributing their own time and often see each other only at occasional conferences. This fact, plus steep cutbacks in government funding for advanced propulsion, have provided the incentive for the Tau Zero Foundation, which hopes to find philanthropic funding sources for research that would otherwise have been supported by NASA or ESA, or funded through universities. A brief description of the Tau Zero Foundation will explain its current status, the projects it has ongoing and those it hopes to fund, along with a look at how the foundation hopes to fit into the broader attempt to further interstellar studies by making small, credible, long- term advances that, over the course of time, add up. Thus the TZF motto: Ad astra incrementis, which translates 'to the stars, in increasingly significant steps.'

Presented at ISDC 2011 - Huntsville. Presented by Les Johnson
Paper and presentation charts are not available.