IF WE are ever going to build a spacecraft capable of reaching the stars, we may have to harness the power of black holes or dark matter (see 鈥淒ark matter rockets and black hole starships鈥�). Even contemplating such impossible-sounding craft may sound like a waste of time and money, but it is not. Thinking 鈥渢he impossible鈥� has frequently opened up rich and unexpected areas of science. X-rays, nuclear power and spaceflight itself were all once considered impossible. They have all changed our world. Why shouldn鈥檛 black-hole power do the same?
Unthinkable to build a black-hole starship? Never
Spending time and money on harnessing the power of black holes and dark matter would not be a waste
