BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Antimatter would 'give us the stars'
At the moment, we are far from understanding even the basics of antimatter production and containment. In the few experiments conducted so far, only a few thousand antimatter atoms have been made.
Faster and larger probes will be able to visit the planets
But the enormous energy that is released when matter and antimatter combine could, in principle, provide a far more efficient propulsion system.
For small unmanned probes, only grams of antimatter would be required.
"With small amounts of antimatter we would be able to conceive of sending robotic probes to the closest star system - Alpha Centauri - and getting data back within a human lifetime," says Les Johnson.
"If we get to the point where we will be making kilograms of antimatter then the stars are going to be ours."
Wow - anti-matter powers us to the stars. Not only do we live in the future. Fiction is becoming fact.
I should definitely blog about Sci Fi more :)
Posted by Paul Goodison at June 30, 2003 08:28 PM | TrackBack