Astronomy / Space Exiting our Milky Way

[Snakebyte]

Found this interesting.

Getting out of the galaxy might take an antimatter engine. Future explorers departing the Milky Way will have to boost their spaceship to 0.2 per cent of the speed of light, according to a study of fast-moving stars in our galaxy.

http://www.newscientist.com/article...s-how-to-exit-the-milky-way.html#.UkGu6D9y0_f

 

[PacalB]

Found this interesting.

Getting out of the galaxy might take an antimatter engine. Future explorers departing the Milky Way will have to boost their spaceship to 0.2 per cent of the speed of light, according to a study of fast-moving stars in our galaxy.

http://www.newscientist.com/article...s-how-to-exit-the-milky-way.html#.UkGu6D9y0_f

A hell of a lot of "if's" there, antimatter being the main one. Sci-fi and the likes of Star Trek have thrown out huge misconceptions in what actually can be done with antimatter. These scientist in this article really need to get a grip when talking about antimatter like that, they may as well replace the word with magic dust.

Still, any progress is celebrated. Because neutral antihydrogen only responds weakly to electromagnetic fields, the atoms have to be moving very slowly to be captured for study. "We make about 6000 antihydrogen atoms at a time but only catch one or two," says Hangst, who is ALPHA team leader. "Everyone still rushes over with bated breath to see if we have anything."

That's bad news for anyone dreaming of cadging a ride on an antimatter-fuelled spacecraft, but it's a start.

And that's just antihydrogen.

 

[Snakebyte]

These scientist in this article really need to get a grip when talking about antimatter like that, they may as well replace the word with magic dust.

Agreed. The interesting part was mainly the required speed.
Perhaps a lengthy trajectory of gravitational slingshots will do, swinging by or through several solar systems before heading out. Seems just about as likely