@sonhouse saidNear light speed is impossible. It would require a huge amount of energy. Even if it is possible it is still too slow. It would still take a lifetime to go to Alpha Centuari and back and you would be unlikely to find a planet suitable for people to live. For that you would probably have to travel at least 100 light years from here.
@Metal-Brain
They used to say man would never fly but the Wright brothers proved them wrong.
You see today's technology with zero amount of curiosity or imagination to see that future tech will be WAY further ahead than we can think of today.
The first thing we will do is the micron thick chips in a huge matrix accelerated by powerful laser beams and sending them at half ...[text shortened]... evelopment of near light speed technology. So don't prognosticate when you live with no imagination.
I think I like it here just fine. Good planet. Stable climate. Lots of fossil fuels to make life easier. Why would you want to leave?
@Metal-Brain
Good planet. Stable climate. Lots of fossil fuels to make life easier. Why would you want to leave?
Things can change
@venda
Yeah. Plants can grow better and we can grow more food.
Better to advance our detection of asteroids coming toward earth and the ability to send a missile to the asteroid and alter it's course. That is the only real threat to our planet other than nuclear war or biological warfare with genetically modified viruses.
Asteroids and war. Those are the only things you should worry about. Everything else is negligible in comparison. Assuming we do not destroy ourselves because of a few megalomaniacs of our species it is only asteroids. Conveniently we have missiles because of our warring tendencies. Might as well use them to save life instead of killing it.
@Metal-Brain
Why don't YOU do the math for a change instead of making an absolute fool out of yourself? Light takes about 4 years to get to Alpha Centauri and it IS a triple star system AND a possible habitable planet has been found there. Suppose we go only HALF the speed of light, here is a little math problem for you. How long would it take to get there at that velocity? That shouldn't tax your incredible intellect.
@Metal-Brain
So you cannot even do arithmetic. Got it. Instead, you go with 'it is impossible for men to fly' BS.
Lets suppose we get craft able to do 20% of c, how long will it take to get to Alpha Centauri? Surely you can do that?
@sonhouse said"Lets suppose we get craft able to do 20% of c"
@Metal-Brain
So you cannot even do arithmetic. Got it. Instead, you go with 'it is impossible for men to fly' BS.
Lets suppose we get craft able to do 20% of c, how long will it take to get to Alpha Centauri? Surely you can do that?
That would be a monumental achievement. Can it be done? 1/5 of c is pretty fargin fast. Getting a space craft to go that fast without being torn apart would be impressive. How do you suggest it be accomplished?
@Metal-Brain
Are you really that dense? I asked how long it would take to get to Alpha Centauri in a craft going 1/5 the speed of light. I leave it up to the future to handle the details. Surely you can do that bit of arithmetic?
@sonhouse saidHow would you achieve such high speed? You need to carry enough fuel to propel you that fast which will limit your speed. And your laser idea has a flaw which you unwittingly brought up previously. A laser widens the farther the distance. Remember our discussion about the mirrors on the moon and laser light? You pointed it out.
@Metal-Brain
Are you really that dense? I asked how long it would take to get to Alpha Centauri in a craft going 1/5 the speed of light. I leave it up to the future to handle the details. Surely you can do that bit of arithmetic?
@Metal-Brain
That is up to future PhD, not our gen. So just answer the question. How long will it take to get to Alpha Centauri if you manage 20%c.
@sonhouse saidThat is irrelevant if it is not possible.
@Metal-Brain
That is up to future PhD, not our gen. So just answer the question. How long will it take to get to Alpha Centauri if you manage 20%c.
@Metal-Brain
You have no idea what technology will appear in the next 100 or 200 years. You are exactly in the same boat as people who said man could never fly, they would be ripped apart by the wind till the Wright brothers showed them otherwise.
So how long will it take to get to Alpha Centauri going 20% of the speed of light?
@sonhouse said5 times c
@Metal-Brain
You have no idea what technology will appear in the next 100 or 200 years. You are exactly in the same boat as people who said man could never fly, they would be ripped apart by the wind till the Wright brothers showed them otherwise.
So how long will it take to get to Alpha Centauri going 20% of the speed of light?
4 light years would be 20 years of travel assuming you can make it there. Then 20 years back for a total of 40. Still a long time.