LIGHTSPEED:
Researchers at various Astralnautic Industry Labs are searching for ways to break the light barrier and achieve either LIGHT SPEED TRAVEL or FASTER-THAN-LIGHT travel. Currently these studies, at various levels of development, are based on the following five theories: RELATIVITY, FIELD, FORCE, TUNNEL and WAVE.
1. RELATIVITY: As a theory this one will be the easiest to deal to prove or disprove. It works on the idea that Einstein's Theory of Relativity is to be literally understood. That being that it's all relative. To the stationary observer, any measurements of a craft approaching light will indicate the craft increasing in mass towards the infinite and then either failing to proceed or appearing to turn to energy, independent of what happens to the craft. The paradox will be if the vessel, on slowing from light speed, would then appear to convert back from energy to matter.
The strength of this theory is primarily based on the concept of the Big Bang, for indeed if the "3-Minute Universe" did exist, then we know that at least at one point in history the speed of light was far exceeded by what must have been a finite amount of energy.
- Currently the following concerns are pursuing this theory:
- ASTRAL AERONAUTICS, RICO, GRAND DESIGNS, RIGEL AEROSPACE
2. FIELD: The field theory is one that has been entertained by many for centuries. The idea is that huge, powerful generators can create a field of null-space around the craft, reducing the vehicle's relative mass to zero (or near-zero) and then the vehicle can be propelled by simple thrust through space at unimaginable speeds.
- Currently the following concerns are pursuing this theory:
- MAGELLAN SHIPYARDS, ASTIO, ANEX ASTRALNAUTICS, KERT AEROSPACE, RIGEL AEROSPACE, and GLAVCOSMOS
3. FORCE: Using a combination of technologies FORCE travel would work like this. A vehicle with a magnetic ram scoop activated ahead of it begins a rapid pace toward a large gravitational source, a sun for example. The magnetic ram scoop collects and injects high amounts of stellar material, funneling that material into its central driver, concentrating the material there while building up speed around the sun. With the magnetic containment housing nearly full and the craft whipping around the sun at increasing speeds the craft then begins a slingshot breakaway in the direction it wishes to go WHILE opening the tiniest of holes in the aft part of the magnetic containment housing so that the collected material explodes out behind the craft. The combination of stresses propell the vehicle at near light, or faster-than-light speeds.
- Currently the following concerns are pursuing this theory:
- NISTAR/ASTIO/RIGEL Aerospace, BOEMAC/KERT AERONAUTICS, AUSTAR, and TEPU
4. TUNNEL: Most similar to the fictional "STAR GATES" or "Wormholes" the biggest problem with this concept mathematically is energy. No less than five points in the equation require variables equal to infinity in order to make this concept work in theory, and then you're left with the infrastructure problem. No one wants a wormhole or anything else that can completely contort the fabric of space and time that close to them, the cancer rates would be nothing compared to the gravitational shock-waves generated.
- Currently the following concerns are pursuing this theory:
- A joint CFTS/ORBITCERN operation is the only organization studying this theory, no physical plans exist to proceed
5. WAVE: The WAVE theory has also been called SLIPSTREAMING or PHASE Travel because of what it accomplishes. Similar to the FIELD theory in that a pocket of null-space is required, but in a more concentrated envelope directly ahead of the craft. PHASE travel is considered the strongest contender for success because it's built upon existing technologies, and mathematically does not have any variables in the equation equivalent that must be infinite.
In SLIPSTREAMING, a craft first begins to travel through Einsteinian Space (slower than light space) with its primary Driver. The Driver may be emitting a phased pulse thrust or not, but the effective ratio must be powerful enough to get the craft to half light speed on it's own for the transit above light speed to succeed.
Depending on the craft and the acceleration rate required the vehicle's forward EMITTER would then begin to project focused energy ahead of the ship through the SLIPSTREAM Forward Emitter or STREAMER.
The STREAMER energy is then run through various frequency modulation adjustments. The energies are interwoven in a tight pattern until they're in a cohesiveness form, and then a series of resonances are introduced to the bond until a WAVE harmonic is created.
The hardest part of breaking the light barrier with this method is finding the correct harmonic. Initial tests are finding that as the Einsteinian effect of mass on the forward STREAMER energy increases, the STREAMER energy is picking up interference which thus far prohibits faster travel.
If this barrier can be breached then the STREAMER energy will be folded back over the craft by the mass effect of Einsteinian Space as the ship accelerates to the point where a pocket is created that the craft exists within, thus protecting from the predicted stresses of high speed travel. This is the reason all such craft are designed with a certain "streamlined" profile.
- Currently the following concerns are pursuing this theory:
- All concerns are investigating this method seriously but currently HARTWELL STAR SYSTEMS (BOOMERANG Project), MAGELLAN SHIPYARDS (ARTEMIS Project), and RIGEL AEROSPACE (ARROWHEAD Project) are the closest to field tests.
Studies in all five of these theories supports the belief that Faster-Than-Light Communications remain impossible. The irony is that if any of these theories succeed, it will be faster to go someplace than to message there for the first time in almost five hundred years.
