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Hundreds of 'Generations Ships' were launched previous to the development of superluminal interstellar travel and suspended animation. These large ecological habitat colony carriers were usually technically successful but often suffered political and cultural calamities during their multi-generation voyages. Many were never heard from again, while some are being re-discovered today, adrift in interstellar space or after founding planetary colonies which never made contact.
In spite of the hardships and disasters, nearly 20% of these pioneer colonies successfully established modern communities on humankind's first extra-solar planets.
These Colony Arc Scoopships were driven by more or less continuous thrust from an array pf electric ion motors. The reaction mass was charged monatomic Hydrogen, which was gathered en route by the large magnetic scoop and then processed into fuel. This fuel was also used for electrical generation and as a feed stock for materials production. Small amounts of Oxygen and other gases were also captured and used to supplement the closed bio cycle nutrient, food, water and atmosphere systems.
The low thrust of this technology was still ample to reach 30% of light speed, given years of continuous engine operation.
The magnetic scoop also provided vital protection against cosmic rays and other hard radiation and provided streamlining against the slight interstellar matter encountered.
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