Transition of Space Propulsion and Challenge to the Future -Breakthrough of Propulsion Technology

Abstract

The distance to a stellar system is very immense, therefore the travel to the fixed star nearest to the Earth using the present propulsion technology will require tens of thousands years. In order to overcome such a limit of the space travel between fixed stars, research and development of a new propulsion theory and navigation theory are indispensable.

This paper describes the historical transition and future prospects of space propulsion technology, that is, new space propulsion and space navigation concept (Laser thruster, Continuum mechanics of Space-Time, Space drive propulsion, Hyper-Space navigation etc.) based on the published article so far by author. The prospects of various applications of laser thruster, ion thruster as electric propulsion and solar sail are introduced. A field propulsion which surpasses conventional propulsion is then discussed as well as the possibility of realistic interstellar travel by applying field propulsion to navigation theory.

Space propulsion physics such as propulsion theory and navigation theory give us a concrete theoretical method toward galaxy exploration.