Imagine boarding a train that never stops, a train that moves so fast it could get you to Mars in under two days.
That’s exactly what Charles Bombardier, a Montreal-based innovator, has envisioned with his concept for a revolutionary space train called Solar Express.
The hypothetical train would travel at roughly 1 percent the speed of light—an astonishing 3,000 kilometers per second (1,864 miles per second)—cutting travel time between Earth and Mars to under 48 hours.
This concept is a radical departure from conventional space travel, which relies on expensive and fuel-heavy acceleration and deceleration phases.
As Bombardier explains:
“In space, the most expensive portions of travel are the acceleration and deceleration phases. The energy required for those portions is tremendous, especially for something as heavy as a space train.”
Instead of stopping, the Solar Express would operate continuously, with smaller spacecraft docking mid-flight to load and unload cargo and passengers.
This approach could dramatically reduce costs, making interplanetary travel more sustainable and efficient.
Challenging the Traditional Approach to Space Travel
For decades, the assumption has been that space travel requires large amounts of fuel and long, costly missions.
However, Bombardier’s concept challenges this notion by proposing a self-sustaining, high-speed transit system that leverages gravity, solar energy, and advanced propulsion systems.
The Solar Express would consist of six aligned cylindrical modules, each about 50 meters (164 feet) long, forming a streamlined, high-speed train hurtling through space.
The train would use initial rocket boosters to launch, then employ a combination of gravitational slingshots and ion thrusters to maintain velocity.
Harnessing Renewable Energy for Infinite Motion
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Solar Express concept is its reliance on renewable energy sources. Rather than using traditional fuel sources, the space train would utilize:
- Solar Energy: Collected by massive solar arrays positioned along its route and transmitted via laser to supercapacitors.
- Water Harvesting: Extracted from comets and small moons, serving both as sustenance for passengers and as a potential fuel source.
- Ion Propulsion: A highly efficient system that generates thrust using electrically charged particles, minimizing fuel consumption.
The Perpetual Motion Model
Once in motion, the Solar Express would never stop. Instead, docking spacecraft would match speed with the train, allowing passengers and cargo to board or depart without requiring the train to slow down.
This design is reminiscent of how modern fighter jets refuel mid-air while maintaining high speeds.
Overcoming Engineering Challenges
While the idea sounds thrilling, several significant hurdles must be addressed before such a system could become a reality:
- Control and Navigation: At speeds approaching 1 percent the speed of light, even the smallest miscalculation could result in catastrophic collisions.
- Docking Mechanisms: How would smaller spacecraft safely rendezvous with a fast-moving train?
- Structural Integrity: Can materials withstand the stress of constant high-speed motion over prolonged periods?
- Initial Construction Costs: Developing and deploying such a structure would require an unprecedented level of investment.
Bombardier acknowledges these challenges but sees value in pushing the boundaries of imagination:
“Obviously, there is a lot to consider, starting with dimensions, masses, speed, energy, etc. How do you control such a complex vehicle? The Solar Express is a basic idea, and we would like to know how we could improve it.”
The Future of High-Speed Space Travel
If the Solar Express were to become a reality, the implications for space exploration would be staggering.
According to Forbes contributor Kritin Tablang, travel times would be dramatically reduced:
- Earth to Moon: 2.13 minutes
- Earth to Mars: 37 hours
- Earth to Neptune: 18 days
To put that into perspective, Voyager 2 took 12 years to reach Neptune, and current Mars missions take approximately 260 days using today’s technology.
Why Radical Ideas Matter
The idea of a continuously moving space train may seem like science fiction, but so did commercial airplanes, electric cars, and the internet before they became reality.
Space travel is still in its infancy, and concepts like the Solar Express encourage scientists and engineers to think beyond traditional limitations.
While we may not see a working version of this train in our lifetime, the discussions it sparks could lead to breakthroughs in propulsion technology, space travel logistics, and sustainable energy use in space.
For now, we can only imagine what it would be like to board a train that never stops—one that could take us to other worlds in the blink of an eye.
