/sci/ - Science & Math

Also, terraforming is nice and all, but being a posthuman-level intelligence distributed over Moon-sized computing cores all over the galaxy and occasionally sending pressure-proof, heat-proof, water-proof, time-proof robots to some worlds is better.

>>3214205

>Interstellar mass beam propulsion network first conceived in the late 20th and early 21st centuries C.E. Today there are more beamrider routes than wormholes in the galaxy as a whole.

>The Network uses arrays of mass beam projectors to magnetically accelerate self maneuvering "smart dust" micropellets to near light speed and direct them toward a vessel equipped with a powerful magnetic/plasma sail. The pellets vaporize upon impact with the magsail and transfer their momentum to the craft, accelerating it to a significant percentage of lightspeed. Once accelerated up to cruising speed, the beamrider coasts on a course that takes it past a series of stars, brown dwarves, and free-floating extra-solar planets. Additional mass beam booster stations are built on and around these objects. Using a combination of the galactic magnetic field, onboard fuel, and mass beams from the booster stations, the beamrider is able to curve its course in a great arc back to its starting point, which is now used as another booster station to send the vessel around the circuit once again.

>As the beamrider passes near each of the booster stations, additional cargo, passenger, and resupply pods are accelerated to match velocity with the ship or are dropped off to be decelerated into the target system. Although the energy required to accelerate/decelerate the pods is considerable, it is far less than that required to constantly boost and decelerate entire self- sufficient spacecraft intended to survive years-long journeys between the stars all by themselves. The Network makes a huge initial investment to boost the main vessel up to speed to take advantage of the much greater savings later.