Comment by mr_mitm
5 days ago
Is there a way to slow down using fusion bombs? Even if you manage to bring thousands of fusion bombs with you? Sounds like this is only a sensible approach for sending probes, which will then zip by their target at huge speeds.
you just need to speed up in the opposite direction by flipping around and firing bombs on the other side.
Which means if we get discovered by an alien probe it will look a lot like getting on the wrong end of a nuclear war.
I remember there was a quote from some sci-fi universe that there's "no such thing as an unarmed space ship".
I believe that is the "Kzinti Lesson" from Larry Niven:
"A reaction drive's efficiency as a weapon is in direct proportion to its efficiency as a drive."
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WeaponizedExhaus...
If you can get any kind of spaceship up to speeds to reach other stars within reasonable time - you've got an amazing weapon. Just ram into something at full speed. Ok, if you have enough energy to correct course to aim, only.
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