Space Shuttle Return to Launch

[Sage]

First of all, the shuttle has been delayed to most likely next week, last I read anyway. Secondly, I'd like to point out that I have received the following information from contacts within JPL. I am currently there interning for the summer and my project is developing mission designs to mitigate/eliminate some the big questions regarding getting people to the moon and Mars. In other words, 13 other students and myself have researched the difficulties in great detail.

[Lunarblade]

I think that it'd be great to go to Mars...simply because it would be the greatest acheivement in the history of mankind. I know it may not have many practical uses rushing there...but who said that everything had to have a practical use? Just the goal itself, in my opinion, is a noble one.
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[Sai Fujiwara]

Sars, if you think some nation isn't stupid enough to TRY and claim the moon, I'd say you're being naieve.

Granted, FIRST we have to actually have some kind of colony there, AND then it actually has to prove useful for something, BESIDES scientific research... Such as raw materials, and minerals.

That's why Antartica hasn't been claimed. There's no viable way to get at all that stuff that COULD be of use. It's buried under the ice at SUPER COLD sub-zero temperatures.

Anyway, that's just a minor, minor nitpick in what is otherwise an incredibly solid argument. If my old man read that, he'd kiss you for your arguments. He's been a huge follower of the US space program, since he was a kid. That's when all the Moon stuff was going on, and he watches all the shuttle launches and reads all the news about it.

Thing is, most people simply don't take into account what you're bringing up, what it takes to get there... Heck, until you pointed that out, I really didn't think of it, either, but that's an incredibly valid point. How can we move our craft around in deep space easily, AND how can we sustain ourselves, AND get back on such a long and extended mission. It's mind boggling to even concieve such a thing, and funny enough, they're the things we DON'T think about.

But, I agree. We do need to spend more money on space travel. I think we should attempt to come up with some type of artificial gravity device, so that we're not stuck floating around, and so that liquids aren't so dangerous. (It's easy to inhale water, when it's just floating around in mid-air.) I think the only things that have been concieved rely on centrifugal (sp) force that results from an object spinning at high speeds.

Personally, I'd die a happy man, if they invented a warp drive in my lifetime. I know that's going science fiction, but so was walking on the moon back in the 30s & 40s. Einstein might debate that faster-than-light is impossible, but I think it's feasable. Maybe not now, but SOME day, right? Well, at least I can dream... :mrgreen:
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Happily Married to the Lovely Lady Chris Lightfellow! :D

[Sualtam Lugh]

"Einstein might debate that faster-than-light is impossible, but I think it's feasable."

It's feasable, but not in our lifetime.

[Sage]

Artificial gravity according to several studies done for Mars travel could be done by spinning. Centrifugal force doesn't technically exist, but yeah, that's the idea. Only safely fast enough to generate on the order of 3 m/s^2 whereas earth's is closer to 10 m/s^2. That's fine because Mars gravity is approximately that anyway.

Warp drive or anything of that nature is way out of anyone's reach and I can't conceive of someone coming up with that within our lifetime. I wouldn't be disappointed if someone did, but I'm not holding my breath. We don't have the capability to launch to the moon or Mars (one of the MAJOR technical challenges), let alone go faster than light.

I am all for getting someone (most likely several someones) on Mars. It's the only motivation I really have for doing my work.
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[Lunarblade]

I actually remember reading an article in a magazine (it was Scientific American IIRC) that had theories on how we could possibly move at the speed of light (or at least close to it). There were some really crazy ideas, such as an antimatter engine, etc. Having seen all we've accomplished in the last couple of centuries, it seems like it's only a matter of time before we can travel around our own solar system and beyond at will. Of course, money is involved too...Sai Fujiwara's point kind of applies here.

It's possible (or even probable) that someday a country will claim part of space somewhere (be it a planet, moon, or what have you) and that will either start a conflict or a mad dash to harvest all the resources there. Possibly both. There are obvious problems with this occurance...but at the same time, the greedy side of human nature will force more interest and research into space...it's unfortunate, but I don't think humanity can find itself to care about something unless it reaps an immediate benefit. Sad, but...

Anyway, hope the shuttle launch goes well next week, at least.
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[Sage]

If I recall, anitmatter engines can only increase one's velocity up to ½ light speed, theoretically. Don't worry though, there are still people working on advanced propulsion.

[Sage]

Take 2: it's set to take off Tuesday July 26 at 10:39 a.m. eastern time. If the same sensor problem crops up, they most likely won't scrub the launch, but if something different comes up, they will.
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