Book Description

In 1905 Einstein found from relativity that there is an impenetrable light barrier. He reiterated this "finden" in 1916, writing, "...We conclude that in the theory of relativity the velocity c plays the part of a limiting velocity, which can neither be reached nor exceeded by any real body." Poincare and Lorentz did not share Einstein's view. Then in a 1921 lecture and a 1922 book, "Sidelights on Relativity," Einstein wrote (pp. 35-6), "Poincare is right. The idea of the measuring-rod and the idea of the clock coordinated with it in the theory of relativity do not find their exact correspondence in the real world." Thus the light barrier was questioned by the same man who erected it, and the last theoretical obstacle to practical star travel was lifted; but few noticed. Fifty years later Mendel Sachs wrote about Einstein's "change of mind," again in 1985, 1993, and at other times; but Sachs' writings were scorned. The first author became aware of Sachs' writings in 2004 and the two exchanged views for a time. This book presents a hard-science case for practical star travel. The first six chapters lay it all out in a logical and factual manner consistent with the theory of relativity. Chapters 7 and 8 outline a "Grand Experiment" designed to probe the light barrier. Chapters 7-9 contain future-fiction accounts of possible scenarios of Humanity's first swaddling steps to the stars. Chapter 10 presents a separate argument questioning the idea of an absolute light barrier.