At two-tenths the speed of light, dust and atoms might not do significant damage even in a voyage of 40 years, but the faster you go, the worse it is--space begins to become abrasive. When you begin to approach the speed of light, hydrogen atoms become cosmic-ray particles, and they will fry the crew. ...So 60,000 kilometers per second may be the practical speed limit for space travel.

Summary

This quote explains how as a spacecraft approaches the speed of light, the dangers of dust and atoms in space become increasingly hazardous. At two-tenths the speed of light, the damage might be manageable over a 40-year voyage, but as the speed increases, space starts to become abrasive. Eventually, hydrogen atoms, which normally exist harmlessly, transform into high-energy cosmic-ray particles that could be fatal to the crew. Therefore, this quote suggests that a practical speed limit for space travel might be around 60,000 kilometers per second, to mitigate the risks associated with cosmic particles.

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