Editing New Space: Technology (section)

== Faster-Than-Light Technology ==

In the Universe there is matter being ejected from the center of galaxies with great force. This is often attributed to Super Massive Black Holes. [1]  However, Electric Cosmologists have different explanations.  They reject black holes, neutron stars, and neutronium.[2][3] They explain that the center of galaxies aren't driven by Black Holes.  They say that the matter being shot out with great force is ejected plasma along what is called a Birkland current.  The matter is being ejected at a rate that is near light speed or past light speed.

Solving the problem of FTL in an Electric Universe is easy.  If a spaceship could ride one of these high voltage, highly energetic plasmas, interstellar travel and even intergalactic travel can be achieved.

In my Sci-Fi universe, spacecraft are capable of creating a Birkland Current and riding it as a bus to the stars.  It's given the name Plasma Slipstream Drive for poetic reasons.  If it's ever built in reality, they'd call it the Birkland Engine.  Currently, to keep the campaign within 50 light years of the star Sol, the Plasma Slipstream Drive is capable of a limit of 20 parsecs before requiring heavy maintenance  by someone who speaks in a heavy Scottish accent and is asked to work miracles.  The drive itself has a speed of 7 parsecs a day.  Which means it can reach Canopus with in about 4 and 1/2 days.

Although more efficient drives are being developed to increase the engine's lifespan.  No relativity trick is required, no bending of time and space, and certainly not another dimension where the distances between stars are shorter.