Re: Could we ever travel to other galaxies?

Ever since the dawn of space travel, we have dreamt of visiting distant planets, solar systems, and galaxies. Given current technology, it is unlikely that we will ever visit another galaxy.

The nearest galaxy to ours is called the "Sagittarius Dwarf" and it is about 60 000 light years away from our own galaxy (the Milky Way). Assuming we can get a vehicle to reach the speed of light, it would take 60 000 years for a vehicle to travel to this galaxy. The next closest galaxy is the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) which is abou 180 000 light years away. While recent experiments have allowed scientists to accelerate particles faster than the speed of light (and, even more recently, completely stop a beam of light in a super-cooled gas chamber) it is commonly accepted that, theoretically, a space vehicle could travel no faster than 0.99 of the speed of light.

However, there is some theoretical evidence to suggest that there might be such a thing as "worm holes" in space which would allow space vehicles to suddenly travel thousands of light years in a fraction of the time (see the story in the Space News at the following address http://www.cosmiverse.com/space041301.html. Right now, the only evidence we have of these worm holes is mathematical and in theory only, without these wormholes, intergalactic travel seems impossible.

This has not stopped us from dreaming of visiting neighboring planets or even solar systems. Recent developments in nuclear research has resulted in the development of a fuel called "Americium" which can provide the same power as today's large, bulky plutonium rods in a film only a fraction of a milimeter thick. This would drastically reduce the mass of the engine on a space ship and could potentially reduce a trip to Mars from several months to about 10 days. For similar up to date information, check out the great Science News site: Artigen http://www.artigen.com/ newswire/scitech.html.

Other technologies being pursued by NASA include the use of "Solar Sails" that catch the solar wind (streams of charged particles flowing away from the sun) to drag, or power a space vehicle through space. There are also models of laser powered vehicles that travel along a high powered laser beam that is sent from either Earth or the Moon. Check out NASA's plans at their website dedicated to space travel http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/.

For some good, general information regarding space travel, check out the Compton's Encyclopedia website http://www.comptons.com/encyclopedia/ARTICLES/0150/01716224_A.html.

Unfortunately, there is no straight answer to your question. Scientists have accelerated particles faster than the speed of light, but there is no way to apply this to larger vehicles yet. Worm holes could work wonderfully, and there is new evidence to suggest that wormholes could be opened up long enough to permit a vehicle to enter, but there is no physical proof that they exist. Most long distance space travel works on the idea that a space ship must first be sent out of the Earth's gravitational pull before the journey could even begin. Some plans involve using the moon as a launching point for such journeys. In short: the fastest speed that we could get a manned spacecraft to fly is under debate. The possibility of manned travel to other solar systems is under debate. The possibility of manned travel to other galaxies is barely even being considered for debate. And the possibility of manned travel to nearby planets is seriously being considered by several world governments.

Please check out the links that I have included to help you to find further information on this exciting subject!