Chapter 15, Problem 28A

To determine

The present-day obstacle to travel in high-speed spaceships for centuries and return to Earth.

Answer to Problem 28A

There isn’t enough fuel or technology to travel with light speed.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Interstellar travels for centuries require a huge amount of energy to sustain that long period.

At present, no such engine has been invented which can travel with the speed of light or any near to it. A technology had developed to travel beyond the speed of sound but that is not enough. But still a huge amount of fuel is required to sustain centuries-long and withstand the gravitational attraction of planets and stars and radiation emitted.

Conclusion:

Thus, traveling beyond galaxies for centuries and then return to Earth would require a huge amount of fuel and the engine to travel with the speed of light which is not available to date.