STL Slower Than Light

What are the challenges of exploring and colonizing the stars when you account for the finite (and invariant) speed of light?

A relativistically correct description of space carries two related consequences:

1) Time Dilation -- an object in motion appears to age slower

2) Length Contraction -- an object in motion appears shorter

So what would an interstellar empire look like when moving between colonies means jumping forward in time? Or when issuing an order to a colony 10 light-years away means it will take 20 years to see if they complied? __

Prototype Build

The most important aspect of this project is making sure that objects behave relativistically.

Currently you can travel between stars to see what length contractions and time dilations look like. You can also verify the resolution to the Twin Paradox!

Navigation

Click on a star then click the Flight Plan button. The flight plan will tell your ship when to accelerate and for how long (in the ship's proper time.) The dialog that first appears will give you the option to set the magnitude of acceleration (and equivalently the gravity that passengers onboard will feel.)

A Flight Plan will only be created if the target is stationary with respect to the ship.
#strategy