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| Two Enzmanns in outer space © David A. Hardy, www.astroart.org (Credit & Copyright) |
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The Enzmann starship is a concept for a manned interstellar spacecraft proposed in 1964 by Robert Enzmannn.[1][2][3] A 1973 iteration, projected using a 12,000,000 ton (11,000,000 tonnes) ball of frozen deuterium to power thermonuclear powered pulse propulsion units, similar to Project Orion engines.[2] The spaceship would have been assembled in-orbit and was part of a larger project preceded by interstellar probes and telescopic observation of target star systems.[2][4] It was described as not quite as long as twice the height of the 449 m (1,473 ft) Empire State Building and shown to be 2,000 feet (600 m) long in a drawing. Most of the spacecraft was attached behind the frozen deuterium (hydrogen isotope) ball, sealed in a seamless metallic tank.[3] The proposed method of construction for this large seamless metal tank, was to expand a plastic balloon in space then coat it with metal.[5]
The spaceship was modular, and the main living area was three identical 300 feet (91.4 m) wide and long cylindrical modules.[6] The projected speed was perhaps 30% of the speed of light c.[3] At these projected speeds relativistic effects between the people on Earth and on the starship, such as time dilation, would become more significant as predicted by special relativity.[7] The Enzmann could function as an interstellar ark, supporting a crew of 200 but also with extra space for expansion.[1] The design formed a basis of a family of related spacecraft.[2] The Enzmann starship was detailed in the October 1973 issue of Analog.[2][8]
