Editing Interstellar travel (section)

=== NASA research ===
[[National Aeronautics and Space Administration|NASA]] has been researching interstellar travel since its formation, translating important foreign language papers and conducting early studies on applying fusion propulsion, in the 1960s, and laser propulsion, in the 1970s, to interstellar travel.

In 1994, NASA and JPL cosponsored a "Workshop on Advanced Quantum/Relativity Theory Propulsion" to "establish and use new frames of reference for thinking about the faster-than-light (FTL) question".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bennett |first1=Gary |last2=Forward |first2=Robert |last3=Frisbee |first3=Robert |title=Report on the NASA/JPL Workshop on advanced quantum/relativity theory propulsion |url=https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/pdf/10.2514/6.1995-2599 |journal=31st Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit |publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics |access-date=8 September 2020 |doi=10.2514/6.1995-2599 |date=10 July 1995}}</ref>

The [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration|NASA]] [[Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Program]] (terminated in FY 2003 after a 6-year, $1.2-million study, because "No breakthroughs appear imminent.")<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19991002003540/http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/bpp "Breakthrough Propulsion Physics"] project at NASA Glenn Research Center, Nov 19, 2008</ref> identified some breakthroughs that are needed for interstellar travel to be possible.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/technology/warp/warp.html |title=Warp Drive, When? |work=NASA Breakthrough Technologies |date=January 26, 2009 |access-date=2 April 2010 |archive-date=7 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080707043144/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/technology/warp/warp.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Geoffrey A. Landis]] of NASA's [[Glenn Research Center]] states that a laser-powered interstellar sail ship could possibly be launched within 50 years, using new methods of space travel. "I&nbsp;think that ultimately we're going to do it, it's just a question of when and who," Landis said in an interview. Rockets are too slow to send humans on interstellar missions. Instead, he envisions interstellar craft with extensive sails, propelled by laser light to about one-tenth the speed of light. It would take such a ship about 43 years to reach Alpha Centauri if it passed through the system without stopping. Slowing down to stop at Alpha Centauri could increase the trip to 100 years,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/generalscience/star_voyage_020319-1.html |title=Sailing to the Stars: Sex and Society Aboard the First Starships |website=[[Space.com]] |access-date=2009-04-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327233721/http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/generalscience/star_voyage_020319-1.html |archive-date=2009-03-27 }} Malik, Tariq, "Sex and Society Aboard the First Starships." Science Tuesday, Space.com March 19, 2002.</ref> whereas a journey without slowing down raises the issue of making sufficiently accurate and useful observations and measurements during a fly-by.