Space Travel - 100 Years from now
by Stephen Pincetich
Dr. Milton gazed from his suite window, overlooking a scenic view of the North American east coast at dawn. Momentarily mesmerized, he turned his body slowly away from the viewport, then his head. He reached for a holographic display that had activated behind him, prompting him to increase the radiation shielding and sun filter strength on his windows, as although it was not yet noon by light time, the orbital hotel had at that point rotated so that Milton's sector faced the sun. He did as instructed, and the display drifted to the ceiling and dispersed its pixels over a light panel. Milton walked, or rather bounced, across the navy blue carpet of his suite, held down only minutely by artificial gravity. He moved over to his bedside, where another holo floated patiently over his bedside table. It was alerting him to a new set of files received in his e-mail account, sent by the USSC, or United States Space Corps, regarding the test results from Milton's latest group of experimental spaceflight technologies. They were all clustered into one file, so he decided to read the whole group in one sitting.
Experiment File #989MC1502A
Subject: Magnetic Accelerator Launch System
Paul H. Milton, Sc.D., M.E.
Test performed in high Earth orbit, May 17, 2110. Test initiated at 0700 hours. Unmanned capsule encased in unobtainium sled started at beginning of 70 mile accelerator loop at 0 km/h. Capsule weighed 2,721 kg with equipment. Test sled
accelerated at a rate of 372.52 m/s2 with a final speed of 404,438.4 km/h sustaining 11.7 gs at the point of maximum centrifugal force. Test required 30 gigawatts of AC power. Results reviewed by U.S. President Marshall Thomas, Admiral George Welles, Admiral Dean Park, Colonel Major Marcus Branson, and Colonel Major Edward Bundy. This project has been deemed feasible. It will remain in the development stage until more efficient, safer designs can be achieved for manned exploration.
Addendum: They tell me that it only reaches 3% of the speed of light, but for as much good as it will do us, it might as well be a warp drive. Science isn't my area, but once we perfect system, space travelers will get to their destinations in a more timely manner with some benefit of time dilation. Congratulations!
-Marshall Thomas, President of the United States of America
Experiment File #989MC1502B
Subject: Amorphous Nano-Modular Photovoltaic Hull Coating
Paul H. Milton, Sc.D., M.E.
Test performed 5° above the solar plane, April 24-May 1,2110. Test initiated at 0000 hours. Hull coating immediately reformed into solar-dynamic shape, providing sufficient power for the test shuttle. Coating did not bake into place, but constantly reformed as the craft rotated. The test took one week exactly, and the coating provided 17% more power than standard fixed photovoltaic
arrays. Results reviewed by U.S. President Marshall Thomas, Admiral George Welles, Admiral Dean Park, Colonel Major Marcus Branson, and Colonel Major Edward Bundy. This project has been elevated to the production stage, and the next generation of ships will have this technology as a standard.
Addendum: This is an amazing piece of work. I have a feeling that it will change power generation in space travel forever. It can also be applied to cars and buildings for more efficient solar energy.
-Dean Park, Admiral, United States Space Corps.
Dr. Milton grinned with satisfaction as he closed the display. Spaceflight was changing, and he was leading the charge.