There are several different classes of Starship, so it’s hard to know which to choose. For the most part, the Enterprise is the flagship of Starfleet. While this means it’s a powerful ship, it’s also a diplomatic vessel that may be on a diplomatic mission, or even hosting a summit. Think of the Enterprise as a Marriot on an aircraft carrier, but its crew members have more varied assignments. Ultimately, the end result will be much different than the story you read.
In terms of design, a starship that keeps its occupants alive would have systems that we’re not currently aware of. For example, a section for growing livestock and crops could dwarf traditional compartments. Similarly, a spacious recreational facility might be essential for surviving life in space. And if there’s a bar on the ship, a bar and a dance floor are necessary to keep the occupants of the starship happy.
Obviously, if you had to choose a spaceship for future humans, the first one that comes to mind is the SpaceX Starship. The Tau Zero Foundation, a space-exploration group, is a good place to start. Their project is funded by DARPA and seeks to gather physicists, entrepreneurs, and anyone else who is interested in long-distance space travel.
Unlike spacecraft we’re familiar with today, starships would need systems that we’re not used to seeing in our everyday lives. Depending on their size and design, they might have sections for raising livestock or crops. Large recreational facilities are also essential for surviving life in space. But the Tau Zero Foundation’s designs don’t have to be definitive. There are other designs and concepts that make sense to build first.
The Tau Zero Foundation’s website has a number of candidate designs and technologies for a starship. Their Icarus probe, for example, would theoretically accelerate to one-tenth or one-fifth the speed of light. Its spherical fuel tanks would help keep the ship fueled indefinitely. The Tau Zero Foundation also offers a design for a spaceship that might be useful in the future.
Another option is to design your own starship. A Tau Zero probe is a spacecraft designed for long-term travel. It’s designed for a long-range journey. Using a DARPA-funded design, it could be a multi-stage craft. A single-stage craft may require conventional propulsion. Alternatively, the rockets’ engines might be capable of a one-stage mission.
The DARPA-funded 100-Year Starship initiative is looking for a design that can survive long-term space travel. In addition to a 100-year-old starship, the Tau Zero Foundation is a non-profit foundation that seeks to fund new technologies for long-term space travel. Although it’s not the definitive design, it’s the only viable one. A hundred-year-old design of the Tau Zero starship is already the most advanced one.
As a spaceship design competition, DARPA has also invited designers to create their own prototype. They hope to inspire entrepreneurs, physicists, and anyone who is interested in long-distance space travel to create a design that they can use. The winners will be finalists of a DARPA-funded contest and will receive a starship. While not necessarily the future, it is a good start.
In terms of technology, starships that are built to sustain their occupants would have systems that are unimaginable in current spacecraft. There would be sections for growing crops and livestock, for instance, that would dwarf traditional compartments. For recreation, a starship might have a large recreational area, including a sports center. But the more complex the design is, the more likely it will be expensive.
There are a lot of different types of starships in space. If you’re an avid sci-fi fan, you should be able to find some interesting designs. And don’t be afraid to get as creative as you like. You can choose between the ones that look the best in outer space. It’s up to you. There are many other types of Starships out there in the galaxy!