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Re:Project Hyperion: Interstellar ship design competition by JumpCrisscross on Thursday August 07, 2025 @07:09AM (#44823018)
> it would by nature need to be capable of full self repair

Why? If we can accelerate a small city to 0.01g in a year, we can accelerate smaller packages to catch up with it once a year.

Re:Project Hyperion: Interstellar ship design competition by dotancohen on Thursday August 07, 2025 @08:09AM (#44823407)
How is that package going to navigate, and then match velocity to dock?
Re:Project Hyperion: Interstellar ship design competition by m4rtink on Thursday August 07, 2025 @08:38AM (#44823705)
Should be doable with beamed propulsion. Basically give each package a lightsail & you can have it maneuver when illuminated by laser arrays either in the home system or on the interstellar craft itself.

The beauty of this setup is that if you are really good at keeping the schedule, this can be all pre-computed. With time slots being allocated beforehand when the laser arrays send beams in a given direction & the packages (or the craft itself) just making really sure they stay in the beam & properly oriented when it arrives at the planed place and time.

Re:Project Hyperion: Interstellar ship design competition by dotancohen on Thursday August 07, 2025 @03:51PM (#44829500)
Imagine the mythology that will develop on that general ship about the beamed packages.