Final answer:
Special relativity, introduced by Einstein, asserts that the speed of light is the universe's ultimate speed limit and has profound implications on our perception of space and time, rendering interstellar travel impractical with our current technology.
Step-by-step explanation:
Special relativity is a revolutionary theory proposed by Albert Einstein in 1905. It posits that the laws of physics are the same for all observers in uniform motion, and that the speed of light is constant in all inertial frames of reference. This effectively sets a universal speed limit, which is the speed of light, and implies that no motion can exceed this limit. The consequences of this theory are profound, as it changes our understanding of time and space. Travel to other star systems, like those in the Orion Nebula, is deemed unreasonable with current technology due to these limitations.
Einstein's theory has been confirmed by countless experiments, including the famous Michelson-Morley experiment. The theory concludes that, as objects approach the speed of light, traditional mechanics begin to fail, and relativistic effects must be considered. These effects include time dilation and length contraction, meaning that the passage of time and the length of objects are not absolute and vary based on the relative motion of observers.
The complete question is:
Jean-Luc Picard is presiding over peace negotiations taking place on his spaceship between the Klingons and the Romulans. Having reached an agreement, representatives of the two factions depart at a relative velocity of 0.900c in opposite directions. According to special relativity, what happens to the length of the spaceship as observed by the departing representatives?