"Cousin Ricky" <ric### [at] yahoocom> wrote:
> "Jon S. Berndt" <jsb### [at] hal-pcorg> wrote:
> > "Cousin Ricky" <ric### [at] yahoocom> wrote in message
> > news:web.458015c7ff75702c85de7b680@news.povray.org...
> > >
> > > Does this estimate take relativistics effects into account?  (I've long
> > > forgotten how to do the math.)  A vehicle that gets to Alpha cen in 4.5
> > > years has to go pretty close to the speed of light.  The relativistic mass
> > > gain would surely affect the thruster's ability to maintain acceleration.
> >
> > You're thinking about this way too hard! ;-)
>
> Well, he *did* say "realistic."  It's details like this that cause
> expensive, taxpayer-funded space probes to vanish without a trace.


taxpayer-funded space probes to vanish without a trace.
Ok there was a trace :-)

Stephen

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