A big enough sail, say a mile on a side, could reach speeds of hundreds of thousands of miles an hour, fast enough to traverse the solar system in 5 years. Riding the beam from a powerful laser, a sail could even make the journey to another star system in 100 years, that is to say, a human lifespan.
Full story in The New York Times.
Image credit: Planetary Society
One hundred years is impractical. Like the pevious post suggested, the world is going to be inherited by robots. Biological life is ill suited for space travel.
John, I think I am beginning to understand why you have had so many posts about robots at this blog. Although I don’t remember your ever mentioning it, robots don’t need health care!
Once the superior life form takes over, the health care system can be dispensed with alogether. Why spend a lot of money on an inferior life form? Brilliant thinking.
The robots are goin to need maintenance, however.
But a smart bot may be able to maintain himself.