College of Science Distinguished Speaker: Realistic Options for Interstellar Travel
College of Science Distinguished Lecture
Realistic Options for Interstellar Travel
Les Johnson
Award-winning science and science fiction author
NASA Technologist
Abstract:
Can we go to the stars? Interest in traveling to a planet circling another star seems higher now than at any time since the beginning of the Space Age. With the ever-growing catalog of extrasolar planets now numbering in the thousands, many are asking if such a voyage may be possible. Les will provide a summary of the challenges and the possibilities, based on real science, to answer this question. (His short answer is, “yes – if we are up to the challenge!”)
Les will first outline the scope of the challenge, which makes exploring our solar system look like child’s play. Next, he will describe the various forms of spacecraft propulsion available today, in the near-future, and those that physics say are possible, but we don’t currently know how to engineer. Finally, Les will provide his assessment of the many interstellar propulsion systems found in science fiction – are any of them possible?
Speaker Bio:
Les is a physicist, award-winning science and science fiction author, and Chief Technologist at the NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. His science fiction books include Crisis at Proxima (Baen 2024), The Ross 248 Project (Baen 2023), Saving Proxima (Baen 2021), Pluto: The Dark World (coming from Tor 2025), and more. Les’s popular science books include A Traveler’s Guide to the Stars (Princeton Press 2022) – now translated into 7 languages, Graphene: The Superstrong, Superthin, and Superversatile Material That Will Revolutionize the World (2018), Solar Sails: A Novel Approach to Interplanetary Travel, and others. In his day job at NASA, les is responsible for the development of the next generation of space system technologies being developed at NASA MSFC, from advanced space propulsion and power to human life support systems and lunar landers. Les served as the Principal Investigator for flight demonstrations of advanced space technology systems including solar sails, deployable solar panels and antennas, and more recently, space based solar power. Les is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, the British Interplanetary Society, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and MENSA – and is the Program Chair of the Interstellar Research Group. He was a technical consultant for the movies Europa Report, Lost in Space, and Solis. NPR, CNN, Fox News, The Science Channel and The Discovery Channel have all interviewed Les about space and space exploration. He was the featured Interstellar Explorer in the January 2013 issue of National Geographic magazine and appeared there again in March 2019.
Reception to follow in the Gosnell A-level atrium.
Intended Audience:
All are Welcome!
To request an interpreter, please visit myaccess.rit.edu
Event Snapshot
When and Where
Who
This is an RIT Only Event
Interpreter Requested?
No