James Nicoll wrote:
> In JEP's CoDominium universe, humans develop the model that predicts
> Alderson tramlines between 2004 and 2008. In 2008, the first starships
> leave the systems.
>
> I can't recall how far out the nearest tramline was but I
> think it was beyond Saturn.
>
> In reality, if someone dumped an FTL drive like that in our
> laps, one that offers no quick solution to getting around in stellar
> systems, where the jump point isn't conveniently located, how long do
> you think it would take before someone got around to sending a probe
> out to the jump point?
If the information was really credible, a decade, give or take.
Even with thermal isotope nuclear power and maybe sacrificial solar
panels (for a Venus or Mercury swing), even the best ion engines we know
how to build would take several years to get there. Add on a few years
for development and production of the (multiple copies of) spacecraft,
and a few more years for funding debates, and you're at a decade.
Regards,
Jack Tingle
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