JimmyKid Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 A random though occurred to me...Space is vast.Also, if Earth were to become a space faring civilization,How would we do it?Combustion Engines sure where good for the Moon, and the ISS, but what about outside our solar system? Or even to Pluto? Would take forever going ~500 MPH or ~804 KPH(Practical or sound theories, ideas... anything) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ami89E1234 Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 Oh goody, a question pertaining to my relativistic area of expertise. I plan on getting B.S. Degrees in Alternative Energy Chemistry and Physics, and then getting Masters Degrees in Astrophysics, Astronomy, Cosmology, and perhaps a Ph.D in Astrophysics/Physics. I might also go for something in the area of Cosmochemistry and Astrochemistry, and my senior year in HS (next year) I'm also taking a course called Civil Engineering and Architecture, so I will be able to relate both fields to some extent. On top of that I watch a TON of shows about this very same topic quite often.From what I've seen, the propulsion issue will be a moot point by 2050 or so. We will have at least one space hub where ships can dock/be built and these will act as part of the counterbalance system for a carbon nano-tube space elevator designed to take loads from the surface to the hub(s). This, in addition the MAC (Magnetically Accelerated Cannon) systems and similar massive 'slingshot' tracks that literally use mass, acceleration, and inertia to overcome the Earth's gravity and launch ships, etc. out into Earth orbit or beyond, will allow for quick and relatively easy travel to the Moon and the space near our planet. Ion engines might also have improved by then, allowing for travel using a slurry of chilled ions to produce propulsion. Think of the TIE (Twin Ion Engine) Fighters from Star Wars as a reference (minus the screeching). Another method of proposed propulsion is via a 'solar sail', essentially a massive 'sail' made out of photovoltaic (solar) panels would simply use the sun to roughly 'push' the craft through space.A final proposed method that I can think of at the moment is through the use of Nuclear Fusion Engines. While at the time being unfeasible here on Earth, in the future we may have advanced such technologies. Currently, hydrogen based fusion reactors on Earth (similar to main-sequence stars, such as our own) can only be run for a few seconds due to the highly destructive neutrons they produce (in stars, of course, this is a moot issue) and, of course, the enormous amounts of energy/heat required for nuclear fusion being very cost-ineffective. However, Helium-3, an extremely rare isotope of Helium found mainly in decommissioned fissile materials here, may be in far greater quantities on the Moon and in various other places. Helium-3 fusion creates far fewer neutrons and produces a LOT of power for a relatively small amount of fuel (think a few thousand Kilos might be able to power the Earth for the next thousand years), and may thus be used instead. One idea I have for an efficient reactor would be to use lasers to chill a slurry of ions to near absolute zero and inject them into the reactor, with the lasers cooling faster the more power you crank out.I also favor the idea of space mining as an extremely viable, profitable, and essentially infinite source of resources for the future. For example, a relatively small M-type asteroid (2 Km) might have upwards of $30 trillion in precious (or otherwise) metals and other valuable elements.I leave you off with these small morsels of food for thought: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voodoo_Operator Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 Think of the TIE (Twin Ion Engine) Fighters from Star Wars as a reference (minus the screeching).If scientists could come up with away to add the screeching, it would be that much more awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ami89E1234 Posted February 9, 2012 Report Share Posted February 9, 2012 If scientists could come up with away to add the screeching, it would be that much more awesome.It's not that there isn't screeching (I have no idea if there is or not. If I had to guess I would say no.) but even if there was, you couldn't hear it in space unless it was operating in a pressurized area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voodoo_Operator Posted February 9, 2012 Report Share Posted February 9, 2012 It's not that there isn't screeching (I have no idea if there is or not. If I had to guess I would say no.) but even if there was, you couldn't hear it in space unless it was operating in a pressurized area.That's my point. They've got to come up with a way to hear sounds in space. Surely they can figure that one out.Also, you may know that Chewbacca's voice was made of bear recordings, but here's something else: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
