Star Jump Science

What is "jump-star science"? It is based on probabilities. That of reaching new Eden(s) via atomic propulsion as against successful climate control. In Dyson's book "Project Orion 1956 – 1963" EPPP is recognised by NASA as potentially good way of using up earth's nasty weapons harmlessly. This book proposes a major revision of the original project and calls that "Project Orion Revised".

The process of publishing this book has been long-drawn out, from the arrival at a solution in 2001 to subsequent embellishments of both theory and solution shortcuts. The overall proposal is complex although simple at its component level. However the context of solution, set against a background of nuclear secrecy and the firm beliefs in the limits of human technological advance, inevitably means a juggling of my viewpoints. “Why do I want to ‘jump to the stars?" It is in part a reaction to global fears of climate change and in part a reaction to the close of rival economic systems symbolised by the cold war end.

“Star Jump Science” is proposed first to the world as a new academic discipline that will emerge from the fields of economics, physics and environmentalism. The two stands of development which make-up its unique overview come from an attempt to balance two probabilities. What is the probability, to ease the rate of climate change to a long term sustainable pace, that mankind can lower energy use and in doing so avoid nuclear war (MAD)? What is the probability that that current thinking on the physics pertinent to successful star travel (nuclear propulsion and velocity/acceleration relativities) are wrong? Both of these questions require science to answer long-term questions about mankind’s future that normally are only required of politicians and religious leaders.

This science does not have to be “atomic”. Analysis of probabilities allows any type of star jumping or propulsion systems to be considered. The relationship between man’s propensity (taste) for military conflict and the allocation of scarce resources (to be more strictly allocated to avoid climate change) is also a strand with a long history of opposing views. The discipline of this proposed scientific field is in establishing statistically quantifiable ways and means to balance the two potential pathways for our world. One to reach the stars. One to down-size and live at peace in a sustainable rate of scarce resource use into several more centuries. Both bring with them their own risks and hence the probabilities of success require rigorous appraisal and debate.

Star Jump Science continued

The goal of this book is to celebrate the first path, star jumps. The climate control argument view is not being discussed here. One reason is that the fashionable idea of climate change threatening mankind post-dates the solution within. The argument within is one-sided, namely that mankind’s only future is in the stars. However future attempts to build upon this beginning may benefit from being debated within the larger proposed framework of "Jump Star Science". The nature of this new scientific discipline is to use histories and examples from history to support new avenues of exploration in atomic physics (and equally in climate control). This is also a very necessary part of this new science because the participants in the debate must acknowledge that “nuclear mythology” or “woolly thinking” is unavoidable because of nuclear secrecy.

Star jump science as a discipline starts with that basis of secrecy as part of the challenge, the elaboration of solutions and possibilities should be studied with a degree of open-mindedness. After-all are you sure you know what you really don’t know? Atomic science and any economically based proposal to explore the stars must therefore be made in broad brush strokes.