A Mythical Form of Space Propulsion Finally Gets a Real Test
Since the birth of the space age, the dream of catching a ride to another solar system has been hobbled by the \u201ctyranny of the rocket equation,\u201d which sets hard limits on the speed and size of the spacecraft we sling into the cosmos. Even with today\u2019s most powerful rocket engines, scientists estimate it would take 50,000 years to reach our closest interstellar neighbor, Alpha Centauri. If humans ever hope to see an alien sunrise, transit times will have to drop significantly.