I’m writing a novel (not to publish, just for fun) and im struggling with the Hard science reality’s with the limits of interstellar travel, the possible speed using known tech of today, and possible speed using a few hundred years of technological development. Let’s talk science in Sci fi

Using huge fuel tanks already in orbit, gravity assists(sun shielded sun divin?), ion engines with large nuclear reactors ect.

The ships would be self contained generational ship where those leaving would never see their new home, but with the hope their childrens children might.

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Also i was wondering with a single ship filled with fuel, seeds, ect could you colonise an asteroid 100s of Au away, so no Solar power or delivery of goods, could you bring enough seeds and materials to create a colony then use the asteroid to keep growing for many 100s of years. I’m thinking a nuclear reactor but with the half life it would be a problem in a few hundred years with 5% power. Fusion always seems to be the sci fi get out of jail card, but 1. Is it truly feasible and 2. If it is could an asteroid provide suitable fuel, parts up keep.

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Last one for those biologically inclined, genetically i read many different numbers about creating enough genetic difference, some say 20, some say 100. Some more? is it possible to have a small group lets say 6 or 8 then using crispr or some gene editing to fix inbreeding, the idea of a self sustaining ship and it crashing only a small few survive is an interesting idea

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if any one can answer any question, that would be great. The more grounded the better, the more mathematical (Finn would be proud) the better.