NASA's Guide to Near-light-speed Travel

  • Released Friday, August 14th, 2020
  • Updated Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 at 1:44PM
  • ID: 13653
So, you've just put the finishing touches on upgrades to your spaceship, and now it can fly at almost the speed of light. We're not quite sure how you pulled it off, but congratulations!

Before you fly off on your next vacation, however, watch this handy video to learn more about near-light-speed safety considerations, travel times, and distances between some popular destinations around the universe.

You can also download shorter clips from the video and printable postcards to send to your friends.

Near-light-speed Travel Guide

This handy video will help acquaint you with the quirks of near-light-speed travel, expected travel times, and the distances to some popular (at least, we think so) destinations!

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Music: "The Tiptoe Strut" from Universal Production Music

Complete transcript available.

Near Light Speed 101: Effects of Near-light-speed Travel

Travel at near the speed of light offers a few quirks you should be aware of, from time and space weirdness to protecting yourself from dangerous cosmic particles. This video covers some of the important ones!

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Music: "Dinner With the Vicar" from Universal Production Music

Complete transcript available.

Near Light Speed 101: Near-light-speed Travel Times

Even if you've figured out how to travel at almost the speed of light, the universe is still a huge place! Watch this video to learn more about how long it takes to cruise around the cosmos.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Music: "Dinner With the Vicar" from Universal Production Music

Complete transcript available.

Postcard: Near-light-speed TravelIf you take a trip at near the speed of light, you won't just feel younger when you get back. You'll BE younger!\* Send this postcard to your friends the next time you return from a trip at near light speed.\*compared to friends that stayed behind.

Postcard: Near-light-speed Travel

If you take a trip at near the speed of light, you won't just feel younger when you get back. You'll BE younger!* Send this postcard to your friends the next time you return from a trip at near light speed.

*compared to friends that stayed behind.

Postcard: Glerbax-29Visit sunny Glerbax-29, home of eight unique, beautiful planets! The locals call it the solar system.

Postcard: Glerbax-29

Visit sunny Glerbax-29, home of eight unique, beautiful planets! The locals call it the solar system.

Postcard: AndromedaA vacation to Andromeda, our nearest spiral neighbor galaxy, is a long, long, long, long, long trip, but it's worth it! And this postcard will prove it to your friends.

Postcard: Andromeda

A vacation to Andromeda, our nearest spiral neighbor galaxy, is a long, long, long, long, long trip, but it's worth it! And this postcard will prove it to your friends.

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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