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In reply to the discussion: Planet Found in Nearest Star System to Earth [View all]SWTORFanatic
(385 posts)Build a mega large nuclear pulse propulsion probe
With a much smaller scaled down design inside that otherwise works exactly the same.
Dump the small probe when you get into the Alpha Centauri system and slow the little one down... you would need a lot less fuel to slow down a small probe... the large probe keeps going at 0.1c...
Also do you really have to slow down at the halfway point? I thought the larger issue was if you want to slow down you need to use half your fuel to speed up and half to slow down. If you are carrying the probe plus a bunch of fuel (bombs) that extra mass is what is going to slow things down... not the fact that you have to "slow down at the halfway point".
I know you would need some significant time to slow down without destroying the probe though :p