Totally ot: space travel

[Tickdoc]

So I read this little article on how we can get to mars in 70 days using this new engine developed that shouldn't work but does?

[IMG]This rocket engine breaks a law of physics. But a NASA test says it works anyway.

This rocket engine breaks a law of physics. But a NASA test says it works anyway. - The Washington Post https://apple.news/AzR8nkdxQQ36YyyKG1LasxQ

I read the article, and it sounds like it still doesn't work. Is this just another pie in the sky future tech thing like the flying cars we were supposed to all be flying around in right now, or is this potentially hopeful?

I would love someone smarter than me to explain how this could actually work and how it could lead to covering that much space so quick.

[ultraman6970]

Well the thing is... how big it needs to be to actually be able to be used as propulsion?? They said this thing worked like 2 or 3 years ago the problem is that they need to send a ship that wont be small at all. And thats the data I never been able to find about this... works works blah blah but nobody said hey it needs to be like a 50x50 solar panel and the engine must generate whatever to move whatever.

Either way unless we find aliens soon I do not see earthman going to the stars anyday soon, and by anyday soon I mean in the next 500 years.

[mtechnica]

I heard the microwaves in side the cavity resonate and generate waves so big that the wavelength can't fit inside the universe and for some reason it causes it to generate a small amount of thrust. Could be wrong. I'm not sure if anyone is certain how it works but it will be interesting to see what happens when it gets tested in the field (space).

[mtechnica]

I don't think it needs to generate that much thrust to work in space and a nuclear reactor could probably power one for a few years. The fact that it can just keep accelerating without expelling mass makes up for the small rate of acceleration, it will just keep building speed. Makes me wonder what would happen if the craft hit dust at speeds approaching c...

[ultraman6970]

Not funny go to mars and then hit a couple of marbles going super ultra fast, the mission could go south really quick. That's my main reason to think that we wont explore space till the next 500 years unless the vulcans arrive to earth to tell us how its done soon

Between you and me, between the zillion of planets and galaxies, we can't be the only ones and if somebody came to earth who knows if they actually left. Why to comeback to your own planet when everybody is already dead when you get back.

[Mzilliox]

are we really so convinced we are screwed that we need to travel to another planet? I mean this one is pretty damned awesome, but I guess for humans the grass is always greener.

I'm putting my chips into sticking around here and making the best of it. I find it a vast waste of resources to dedicate to this fantasy. the other planets don't sustain life, what do we think is the point? its stealing minds and resources from real life problems.

there, explained

[OtayBW]

^ It could also be said that it is the inherent nature of Man to reach out to greater and higher challenges in the quest for understanding and meaning in the Universe. Just like the fundamental curiosity of a child, an inseparable element of our character is that we never stop being explorers.

[cadence90]

Originally Posted by ultraman6970

Either way unless we find aliens soon I do not see earthman going to the stars anyday soon,

What do you mean by "find" aliens?
I mean, I'm pretty sure I've come across some on this very forum!

Originally Posted by ultraman6970

and by anyday soon I mean in the next 500 years.

500?
Well, I guess if your next child is a boy, his name will NOT be Christopher or Columbus, or if you have triplet sisters, they will NOT be named Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria!

[verticaldoug]

My favorite quote from the movie The Martian is when Captain Lewis is asking the crew about altering course to save Mark Watley on Mars:

"And before you answer, consider the consequences. If we mess up the supply rendezvous, we die. If we mess up the Earth gravity assist, we die. If we do everything perfectly we add 533 days to our mission. 533 more days before we see our families again. 533 days of unplanned space travel where anything could go wrong. If it’s mission critical, we die."

Martinez: "Sign me up"

[ultraman6970]

Hehehe... remember a guy in a photograph school in my country, he was saying he was from another planet and doing a sign like spock with his hand, was similar not the same one... dude really needed attention or was really from another planet

Originally Posted by cadence90

What do you mean by "find" aliens?
I mean, I'm pretty sure I've come across some on this very forum!


500?
Well, I guess if your next child is a boy, his name will NOT be Christopher or Columbus, or if you have triplet sisters, they will NOT be named Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria!

[Tickdoc]

I just hate fluff scientific pieces....but I love science.

I remember when I was 9 or 10 I read an article about how by the year 2010, there would be no more trees on the planet, hence no more paper.

For some reason, my pre-pubescent brain was fine with no more trees, but appalled at the thought of no more paper.

In hindsight, the article was probably suggesting that at our current rate of deforestation there would be no more trees left in the world, but that article solidified may distrust of the printed word and scientific extrapolations or predictions. It made me question every scientific journal since and develop an automatic brain turn-off whenever predictions are spouted.

So this article says they have have built something that works by defying the known laws of physics, that it works, but they don't know how. I find that extremely interesting in a world where we have slowed our rate of discovery in such matters.

Thanks for satisfying my curiosity.

[CampyorBust]

Originally Posted by Tickdoc

I remember when I was 9 or 10 I read an article about how by the year 2010, there would be no more trees on the planet, hence no more paper.

For some reason, my pre-pubescent brain was fine with no more trees, but appalled at the thought of no more paper.

Here you hit on a most important impasse, while we are still blessed with trees and paper on planet Earth. (OMG I cant believe it either the Manbearpig was wrong! Say its not so!) The same cannot be said for the majority of other celestial bodies, most of the time they are as bare as a baby’s bottom when it comes to vegetation. So, no Toilet Paper in space that’s right your strawberry flavored TP supply will only last half the journey! This is where the timeless advice of my good friend Wilbur Sargunaraj on how to properly use an Eastern kakoose type latrine will come in handy, space cadets take note this is important, enjoy…

https://youtu.be/dKkryfdtMNQ

Sadly water and dippers also scarce in space, or so we are told.

Edit: I forgot there are at least two dippers floating around up there.

[JStonebarger]

Originally Posted by Mzilliox

are we really so convinced we are screwed that we need to travel to another planet?

Some are, at least.

Stephen Hawking: "Although the chance of a disaster to planet Earth in a given year may be quite low, it adds up over time, and becomes a near certainty in the next 1,000 or 10,000 years."

http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/17/health...humanity-trnd/

[sg8357]

Originally Posted by Mzilliox

are we really so convinced we are screwed that we need to travel to another planet? I mean this one is pretty damned awesome, but I guess for humans the grass is always greener.

This is the same argument made by my great grand uncle 500 times removed,
always saying that money into log boats was money down the mammoth hole.
Uncle Uruk also had a dim view of monotheism and the poor public education
system in Sumer.

[Cicli]

Originally Posted by JStonebarger

Some are, at least.

Stephen Hawking: "Although the chance of a disaster to planet Earth in a given year may be quite low, it adds up over time, and becomes a near certainty in the next 1,000 or 10,000 years."

http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/17/health...humanity-trnd/

That dude is on ludes.