G-force for More

Extended Acceleration

increases cruise velocity.

Time	Distance	Velocity
1.0 Yr	.38 LY	.64 LY/Yr
1.2 Yr	.51 LY	.71 LY/Yr
1.4 Yr	.66 LY	.76 LY/Yr

G-force Accelerate for More than a Year

Definitions

• D is total distance from our star, Sol, to destination. This table independently varies value from 1 to 10.
• t_Acc is acceleration duration from departure til start of cruise. This case study proposes a monotonic increase of this duration as shown. This method could shorten lengthy cruise times, but fuel consumption tradeoffs must be carefully considered.
• Δ - Daily difference in spaceship's velocity is due to acceleration caused by constant g-force. We approximate this value: Δ = 86,400 g / c = .2826% c
• V_Fin is final velocity achieved after applying g-force propulsion for t_Acc duration.
• v_Fin is also the maximum velocity achieved during the flight.
• v_Fin is also cruise velocity; for this case study, it increases in correlation with acceleration duration.
• d_Acc is acceleration distance. It also increases in correlation with acceleration duration.
• LY = 63,241 AU
• d_Dec is deceleration distance; it equals acceleration distance.
• d_Cru is cruise distance; it equals total distance minus distances for acceleration and deceleration.
• t_Cru is cruise time as observed from the Earth.
• t_Dec is deceleration time. Assuming consistent g-force, deceleration time equals acceleration time.
• T is total time: acceleration + cruise + deceleration

Total Dist	Accel Time	Final Velocity		Acceleration distance		Cruise distance	Cruise time	Decel time	Total Time
D	tAcc	VFin		dAcc		dCru	tCru	tDec	T
LY	days	AU/day	% c	AU	LY	LY	Years	Years	Years
1	390.8	114.94	66.38%	26,082	0.41	0.18	0.26	1.07	2.37
2	418.2	119.22	68.85%	29,240	0.46	1.08	1.56	1.14	3.82
3	447.5	123.45	71.29%	32,741	0.52	1.96	2.76	1.23	5.17
4	478.8	127.60	73.70%	36,617	0.58	2.84	3.86	1.31	6.44
5	512.3	131.67	76.04%	40,901	0.65	3.71	4.87	1.40	7.64
6	548.2	135.62	78.32%	45,625	0.72	4.56	5.82	1.50	8.78
7	586.5	139.43	80.52%	50,827	0.80	5.39	6.70	1.61	9.86
8	627.6	143.08	82.63%	56,54	0.89	6.21	7.52	1.71	10.90
9	671.5	146.54	84.63	62,816	0.99	7.01	8.29	1.84	11.91
10	718.5	149.81	86.52%	69,683	1.10	7.80	9.01	1.97	12.89
IV	365.26(1.07)D	c[1 - (1 - Δ)tAcc]		ct + v(t) ln(1-Δ)		DTtl - dAcc - dDec	dCru VFin	tAcc 365.26	tAcc + tCru + tDec

AXIOM. Light speed is absolute and puts limits on interstellar travel. Even at light speed, interstellar flights take years for photons, virtually massless particles. Since human spaceships will contain large quantities of mass, the best we can hope for is to approach light speed; we can never attain it and certainly never surpass it.

ASSUMPTION-1. Self Contained Fuel. Prior to departure from Sol, notional spaceship will collect and carry sufficient fuel for planned propulsion phases to destination.

ASSUMPTION-2. Earthlike Gravity. We currently know two methods to achieve Earth like gravity on an interstellar vessel.

• Constant G-force Acceleration. If an onboard propulsion system can increase ship's velocity by 9.80665 m/s for every second of "powered" flight, then ship's contents will feel a force equivalent to Terran gravity in the direction opposite to propulsion vector.
• Centrifugal Force. If ship is not able to maintain g-force for entire flight, then the ship must spin so that contents feel forced against the inside of the outer hull. Thus, ship's shape should be cylindrical and rotate around its longitudinal axis; spin rate (usually given in degrees per second) will be inversely proportional to radius (as cylinder size increases, less spin rate is needed to maintain centripetal acceleration of 9.80665 m/s/s). Other pieces will present further details. (idea: insert figure with two g-force ships)

ASSUMPTION-3. Cruise Phase. TE considers it axiomatic that interstellar distances are so great that any interstellar voyage can easily require fuel consumption greater than 100% of ship's mass to power entire flight. Thus, the powered portions of flight (acceleration and deceleration) must be limited. Thus, an interstellar voyage must include a nonpowered cruise phase. Thus, TE assumes following flight profile.

• Acceleration Phase. Ship starts off trip by accelerating at g-force for a given duration. TE arbitrarily chooses a base line duration of one year, but this acceleration duration can be extended within fuel limitations. During g-force acceleration, ship occupants will feel a gravity like force drawing them back to departure, Solar System; thus, "up" will be toward destination, and "down" will be toward Sol, departure star.
• Cruise Phase. Due to fuel considerations, ship will stop propulsion after a planned duration and will maintain constant velocity. Fortunately, g-force acceleration for a year or more brings the ship to a significant portion of light speed, c, and reduces cruise duration from centuries to just years. Thus, ship will maintain constant velocity for entire cruise phase (majority of voyage). However, the cessation of propulsion will cause the ship to lose g-force from back of ship. To maintain Earth like gravity, occupants will have to reconfigure ship to maintain a controlled longtitudinal spin throughout the cruise phase. Thus, ship's spin will regain Earth like g-force by forcing contents against inside of outer hull.
• Deceleration Phase. Ship will need to end this trip by slowing down from cruise speed to an operational speed. At a predetermined duration prior to arrival, ship will apply propulsion vector against direction of flight. While acceleration phase directed exhaust particles toward Sol, departure; the deceleration propulsion vector will point in opposite direction, toward destination. Now, "up" will now be in the direction of Sol which is retreating from the ship, and "down" will be toward destination, which is getting closer.

Closest Destinations.

Destination		Accel Time	Final Velocity		Acceleration distance		Cruise distance	Cruise time	Decel time	Total Time
Star	D	tAcc	VFin		dAcc		dCru	tCru	tDec	T
Name	LY	days	AU/day	% c	AU	LY	LY	Years	Years	Years
Alpha Centauri	4.365	490.8	129.97	75.06%	39,047	0.62	3.13	4.17	1.34	6.86
Barnard's Star	5.963	546.8	136.30	78.72%	46,512	0.74	4.49	5.71	1.50	8.70
Wolf	7.786	618.6	143.08	82.63%	56,547	0.89	6.00	7.26	1.69	10.65
Lalande	8.291	640.1	144.85	83.66%	59,642	0.94	6.40	7.66	1.75	11.16
Sirius	8.583	652.8	145.86	84.24%	61,499	0.97	6.64	7.88	1.79	11.45
Luyten	8.728	659.3	146.35	84.52%	62,439	0.99	6.75	7.99	1.80	11.60
Ross	9.681	703.2	149.48	86.33%	68,935	1.09	7.50	8.69	1.93	12.54
Observed		Given	c[1 - (1 - Δ)tAcc] c= 173.15 AU/dy		ct + v(t) ln(1-Δ)		DTtl - dAcc - dDec	dCru VFin	tAcc 365.26	tAcc + tCru + tDec