Space Travel

[David In Indy]

I would visit other planets if it were possible...I understand the practical space/times problems with interstellar travel, but I remain convinced we're on the verge of inventing the warp drive and living in a Star Trek world...boldly going, etc...

You understand physics too, don't you Lynne? So I find your comments very interesting. And hopeful. Maybe someday we'll actually do it. I just wonder if any of us will live to see it?

[brokeplex]

I would visit other planets if it were possible...I understand the practical space/times problems with interstellar travel, but I remain convinced we're on the verge of inventing the warp drive and living in a Star Trek world...boldly going, etc...

I sure hope that you are correct about the "warp drive" breakthrough! Now don't tell me that matter / energy transporters are on the horizon, I have some really serious concerns about being disassembled and reassembled! I was looking thru my old copy of "The Physics of Star Trek" and enjoyed reading about the theoretical possibilties of FTL travel. Maybe you are correct, lets hope so, humankind needs a backup world in case we totally muck up this one beyond repair.

[Artiste]

Yes, now am at a place where the USA space men came since it's very similar to the moon terrain!!

There was something on TV news yesterday that showed that some scientists are finding a science experiment similar to warp or likewise...like a person disapearing and appearing elsewhere in space, but that is far away to prototype this as possibilities, yet!!

Science fiction can sometime become real?? Some Humans desire to go to the Moon, Mars, elsewhere!!

Hugs!!

[Kerry]

I guess I'd have to get over my flying phobia first, before giving serious consideration to space travel, and I can't see that happening any time soon.

Nope, space travel ain't my glass of tea. 

[Lynne]

I sure hope that you are correct about the "warp drive" breakthrough! Now don't tell me that matter / energy transporters are on the horizon, I have some really serious concerns about being disassembled and reassembled! I was looking thru my old copy of "The Physics of Star Trek" and enjoyed reading about the theoretical possibilities of FTL travel. Maybe you are correct, lets hope so, humankind needs a backup world in case we totally muck up this one beyond repair.

Sorry, Brokeplex, but I think that the matter/energy transporters are much closer to reality than my beloved warp-drive fantasy.  I read an article awhile back - I'll look for the reference - claiming that scientists had 'transported' an atom or particle or something from point A to point B.  The upshot was that no physical movement took place, but the properties of the particle (spin, etc...) were conveyed from a particle at point A to the one at B...a small step to be sure, but if we're all just made up of particles...

PS.  My geeky self spent a precious day off yesterday watching the season of Firefly from start to finish...highly recommended for sci-fi and/or Joss Whedon fans.  The movie SERENITY is next on that list, after I rally myself to watch TWO HANDS

And 'Amen' to the backup world plan too... 

[David In Indy]

I was in the Mojave Desert to watch the two successful flights of Space Ship One and the winning of the X Prize.  Space Ship Two is well on its way.  In 2009 or shortly thereafter, anyone with the money will be able to purchase a ticket for about $200,000 to take a suborbital flight.  It is a lot, but sure beats the $20 Million each paid by five individuals to visit the International Space Station on the Russian Soyuz.  Branson and company expect to eventually drop the price to about $30,000 a seat.

This makes me remember something else I heard Richard Branson say. He said he was working on an airplane which would jump UP very fast and into space (or near space) and then fall back to earth very quickly. While this may sound silly, he said this type of technology would reduce a normal 18 hour flight from the US to Australia, down to 1 or 2 hours. Because instead of circling the earth like an airplane does, this aircraft would jump up from the US from example, and fall down and land in Australia. I don't understand it really, but I remember Richard talking about it and it was very interesting.

[David In Indy]

I am familiar with this, although I have not heard Branson speak about it specifically.  The idea is that an aircraft would actually leave the atmosphere (suborbitally) and so be able to fly very high and fast, with little resistance, and indeed travel from Point A to Point B across the world in an hour or two.  This is similar to how the Concorde flew so fast (3 hours from NY to London).  It flew at 60,000 feet, at Mach 2.

Having spent way too many hours on commercial airliners, suborbital point to point travel is near and dear to my heart.  It is a natural progression from the Virgin Galactic space tourism flights.  It is a sad state of affairs indeed that the world retired its last supersonic commercial aircraft (the Concorde) a few years back.  I am hopeful of a replacement on the horizon.

I believe I heard Richard Branson talking about in on Larry King one night. At least I THINK it was Larry King. 

Anway, it seems they will be unveiling some new technology very soon. Richard Branson is encouraged, so that in itself encourages me.

Welcome to Bettermost Susiebk!!

[brokeplex]

Sorry, Brokeplex, but I think that the matter/energy transporters are much closer to reality than my beloved warp-drive fantasy.  I read an article awhile back - I'll look for the reference - claiming that scientists had 'transported' an atom or particle or something from point A to point B.  The upshot was that no physical movement took place, but the properties of the particle (spin, etc...) were conveyed from a particle at point A to the one at B...a small step to be sure, but if we're all just made up of particles...

PS.  My geeky self spent a precious day off yesterday watching the season of Firefly from start to finish...highly recommended for sci-fi and/or Joss Whedon fans.  The movie SERENITY is next on that list, after I rally myself to watch TWO HANDS

And 'Amen' to the backup world plan too... 

good point about the transferabilty of "spin", I read a similar science news report a few years back. it seemed to me at the time that this was an excellent illustration of the old quantum paradox of not being able to measure a subatomic particle without affecting the nature of the subatomic particle, those scientists actually measured the effect that they were having on the subatomic particle. but, can we actually transport Schroederinger's cat from my house to yours, if so, I will be happy to send you my longhaired Siamese tonight, he is going thru a howling juvenile puberty phase, complete with yet again trying to walk on my keyboard while I am attempting to post.

Firefly is really great, glad you like Sci-fi, I am attending one of DFW's scifi cons this coming weekend and hope to buy some great posters.

[Artiste]

So found to-night from a space astronaut that when they are in space, that their bones deteriate!!

Maybe even for life even when returned on Earth!

Much needs to be done... yet!

Did you know?

Hugs!!

[David In Indy]

So found to-night from a space astronaut that when they are in space, that their bones deteriate!!

Maybe even for life even when returned on Earth!

Much needs to be done... yet!

Did you know?

Hugs!!

I think I've heard about that too Artiste. Apparently there are several adverse affects to living in space. But isn't this one of the reasons they are building the International Space Station? So they can work out some of these problems for the future space flights?