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[Note 3] According to the special theory of relativity, c is the upper limit for the speed at which conventional matter or energy (and thus any signal carrying information) can travel through space. [4] [5] [6] All forms of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, travel at the speed of light. For many practical purposes, light and ...
Interstellar travel is the hypothetical travel of spacecraft from one star system, solitary star, or planetary system to another. Interstellar travel is expected to prove much more difficult than interplanetary spaceflight due to the vast difference in the scale of the involved distances. Whereas the distance between any two planets in the ...
Faster-than-light ( superluminal or supercausal) travel and communication are the conjectural propagation of matter or information faster than the speed of light ( c ). The special theory of relativity implies that only particles with zero rest mass (i.e., photons) may travel at the speed of light, and that nothing may travel faster.
Alcubierre drive. Two-dimensional visualization of an Alcubierre drive, showing the opposing regions of expanding and contracting spacetime that displace the central region. The Alcubierre drive ( [alkuˈβjere]) is a speculative warp drive idea according to which a spacecraft could achieve apparent faster-than-light travel by contracting space ...
Space travel under constant acceleration is a hypothetical method of space travel that involves the use of a propulsion system that generates a constant acceleration rather than the short, impulsive thrusts produced by traditional chemical rockets. For the first half of the journey the propulsion system would constantly accelerate the ...
Relativistic rocket means any spacecraft that travels close enough to light speed for relativistic effects to become significant. The meaning of "significant" is a matter of context, but often a threshold velocity of 30% to 50% of the speed of light (0.3 c to 0.5 c) is used. At 30% c, the difference between relativistic mass and rest mass is ...
Spaceflight. Intergalactic travel is the hypothetical crewed or uncrewed travel between galaxies. Due to the enormous distances between the Milky Way and even its closest neighbors —tens of thousands to millions of light-years —any such venture would be far more technologically and financially demanding than even interstellar travel.
Space travel, [ 1]: 69 [ 2]: 209–210 [ 3]: 511–512 or space flight[ 2]: 200–201 [ 4] (less often, starfaring or star voyaging[ 2]: 217, 220 ) is a science fiction theme that has captivated the public and is almost archetypal for science fiction. [ 4] Space travel, interplanetary or interstellar, is usually performed in space ships, and ...