The sun and its retinue of planets drift as a group through the vast gulfs of space that separate the stars.
Bernard M. OliverThe factor most ignored in discussing interstellar flight is the kinetic energy that must be invested in the ship to make its tons of matter move at a substantial fraction of the speed of light.
Bernard M. OliverPresent annual world energy consumption is about equal to the annihilation energy of 4 tons of matter.
Bernard M. OliverIn the past, on Earth, it has largely been to exploit foreign resources and to expand the domestic territory.
Bernard M. Oliver