Interstellar Travel: Propulsion, Life Support, Communications, and the Long Journey addresses the technical challenges that must be overcome to make such journeys possible. Leading experts in the fields of space propulsion, power, communication, navigation, crew selection, safety and health provide detailed information about state-of-the-art technologies and approaches for each challenge, along with possible methods based on real science and engineering. This book offers in-depth, up-to-date and realistic technical and scientific considerations in the pursuit of interstellar travel and will be an essential reference for scientists, engineers, researchers and academics working on, or interested in, space development and space technologies. With a renewed interest in space exploration and development evidenced by the rise of the commercial space sector and various governments now planning to send humans back to the moon and to Mars, there is also growing interest in taking the next steps beyond the solar system and to the ultimate destination planets circling other stars. With the rapid growth in the number of known exoplanets, people are now asking how we might make journeys to visit them.


Discussions the technical challenges that must be overcome to mount interstellar missions
Features various aspects of interstellar travel by the world's recognized leading experts in the field
Provides referenceable data and analysis for both new and experienced researchers in the interstellar and deep-space exploration fields


1. Assumptions and Limitations - FTL possibilities and issues

2. Propulsion Options

3. Power options

4. The Interstellar environment

5. Crew Health - psychological, biological, medical

6. Life Support

7. Communications and the ability to remain connected to Earth

8. Prospects for Human hibernation

9. Ship culture and government

10. Spare parts and additive manufacturing

11. Optimal crew size at both departure and arrival

12. Artificial Intelligence