description Tau Zero Overview
Tau Zero is a hard science fiction novel by American author Poul Anderson, first published in 1970. The story follows the crew of the spaceship Leonora Christine, a vessel equipped with a Bussard ramjet capable of accelerating to near-light speed. When the ship's deceleration mechanism is irreparably damaged, the crew is forced into a runaway acceleration, causing extreme time dilation and projecting them into the distant future. The narrative meticulously applies relativistic physics to explore the crew's psychological and social responses to their isolated journey.
help Tau Zero FAQ
Why can the Leonora Christine not slow down in Tau Zero?
An encounter with interstellar matter damages the ship's deceleration system while leaving its Bussard ramjet accelerating. The crew therefore continues gaining speed as the universe outside evolves over immense spans of time.
What does "tau zero" mean in the novel?
Tau represents the time-dilation factor relating time aboard the ship to time in the external universe. As the Leonora Christine approaches light speed, tau moves toward zero and far less time passes for the crew than outside.
Is the Bussard ramjet in Tau Zero a real scientific idea?
Yes, physicist Robert W. Bussard proposed the interstellar ramjet concept in 1960. It would collect hydrogen from space for fusion propulsion, although later research identified major engineering and drag problems.
Was Tau Zero originally published as a shorter story?
Yes, Poul Anderson expanded the novel from his story "To Outlive Eternity." The book version appeared in 1970 and became a prominent example of hard science fiction built around relativistic travel.
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