🚀 go-pugleaf

I've read that it would be possible to send a "probe" to the
nearest star at near relativistic speeds by making use of a large
solar sail and a small lightweight probe.  This sounds cheap,
but extremely difficult.

However, one watches Star Wars and Star Trek, etc, and dreams
of faster than light travel and sending probes and people to the
far reaches of space.  

a)  What are people's opinions on unmanned planetary exploration
    through the use of solar sails, and

b)  Why is or why is not faster than light travel possible?  I
    know that as an object approaches the speed of light it's
    mass approaches infinity, and that besides needing infinite
    propellent, you need to eject it just as fast, using conventional
    means.  I'd be interested in the non-conventional.



---------------------------------------------------------------------
Dave Villeneuve, davev@bnr.ca   | Mail daemon wa canada ni arimasu. 
NTJI/BNR Japan                  | Demo, boku wa nippon ni imasu yo.
My opinions are my own, though please don't quote me on that.