Posted on 08/14/2016 4:49:11 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Here are a few ways that humanity may be able to leave the cradle of Earth.
The field equations of Einstein’s General Relativity theory say that faster-than-light (FTL) travel is possible, so a handful of researchers are working to see whether a Star Trek-style warp drive, or perhaps a kind of artificial wormhole, could be created through our technology.
But even if shown feasible tomorrow, it’s possible that designs for an FTL system could be as far ahead of a functional starship as Leonardo da Vinci’s 16th century drawings of flying machines were ahead of the Wright Flyer of 1903. But this need not be a showstopper against human interstellar flight in the next century or two. Short of FTL travel, there are technologies in the works that could enable human expeditions to planets orbiting some of the nearest stars.
Picking the Target
Certainly, feasibility of such missions will depend on geopolitical-economic factors. But it also will depend on the distance to nearest Earth-like exoplanet. Located roughly 4.37 light years away, Alpha Centauri is the Sun’s closest neighbor; thus science fiction, including Star Trek, has envisioned it as humanity’s first interstellar destination.
In 2012, a planet was identified orbiting closely around Alpha Centauri B, one of three stars comprising the Alpha Centauri system. Three years later, astronomers were unable to find that same planet, but if it exists it would be too hot for life anyway. What we really want to know is whether planets exist further out from the two main stars, or whether their much smaller, dimmer companion star, Proxima Centauri, located just 4.24 light years from Earth, has planets of its own.....
(Excerpt) Read more at astronomy.com ...
ha!
their much smaller, dimmer companion...
Planet Pelosi?
I have a cat who demonstrates faster than light travel each dinner time.
Glad I’m not the only one.
Oh, The huge Hannity! ha ha
Good one.
Ask and you shall receive!
EARTH-LIKE PLANET AROUND PROXIMA CENTAURI DISCOVERED 8/13/2016
Imagine how embarrassing it would be to arrive at Alpha Centauri as the 25th generation capain of your Interstellar mission only to be greeted by your great great great great grandson. Who had left first centuries previously benefit of subsequent better technology.
Side note: 50 years of Star Trek is on the History Channel right now.
"The Spice Must Flow!"
Near space travel, it may be productive and lead to advances in science unforeseen otherwise. Human beings leaving the galaxy? It will not happen and is a waste of resources. First go to the moon in a manner that can be easily replicated, and is as safe as air travel relatively speaking.
It is not necessary to gave “tens of thousands” of travelers on a generation ship. Yes there must be a lot of people in a population to avoid the ill effects of in breeding but populations considerably smaller than tens of thousands have done so.
And even population of 1,500 or so could be refreshed genetically by implantation of frozen embryos if necessity so required.
Four light years away, they are just learning about Romney-Ryan and have lost all interest in coming to Earth.
So sending a few hundred in-vitros aka “tanks” would be a good or bad idea?
Space Above And Beyond reference fwiw.
Use your Interrositer for further interstellar travel instructions.
OH god I just caught this version of Dune recently. I’m on the fence, totally.
The original Spacing Guild was so much more inspired. The whole David Lynch vision was simply... epic.
The later version seems to want to make Dune understandable on the first viewing. But it was more adherent to the book.
Anyway, Einstein’s notes do not account for “FTL movement” at all. It says it’s impossible.
Warp and wormholes give us “FTL travel”. I don’t think the article makes the distinction.
Anyway, I’m starting the Spacing Guild before Jeff Bezos does.
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