NASA to look for Vulcan.

[DaryusWilliams 0]

http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/news/planetVulcan.cfm Found this online and thought it was cool. NASA is actually going to look for the planet Vulcan. Live Long and Prosper. ^_^

 

Laterz,

Daryus

Edited June 1, 2007 by DaryusWilliams

[Guest STSF Lebowski]

Wow... imagine if they find a theoretically habitable planet only 16 light years away. It's amazing to think that the science fiction concept of sending long term colony ships to other star systems could even be realized within the century.

 

Ion propulsion drives have pushed space probes like Deep Space 1 to speeds over 30,000 mph. It's still 1/20,000th of the speed of light, but.... who knows what they'll come up with next ^_^

 

Look how much our technology has advanced in the last 100 years. 100 years ago we could barely fly and now we're going to Mars and now Deep Space 1 is 200 million miles from earth.

[Dumbass 0]

Ah, but what happens if we launch one of these multi-generational ships, our techology improves in the interim, and we launch a second, faster ship that gets there before the first ship? If I was on that first ship I'd be pretty pissed.

[Dumbass 0]

But they only have one more season to do it.

[Dox Maturin 0]

You can't have generational ships.

 

First, there is the human rights issues. We are basically condeming an unborn group of people to a life of servitude aboard a ship.

 

Second, there's the education problem. You put 30 scientists, astronomers, doctors, etc on a ship that have been trained on Earth by dozens of professionals. Now you have a bunch of kids learning a trade from a few select people. They may be able to be trained to run the ship or perform first aid, but are they going to have fully staffed universities to teach these kids everything they need to know to actually be productive when they reach their destination?

 

Third, the diversity problem. Who's to say out of all those kids you aren't going to end up with a few that have physical/mental handicaps, are lazy or uninterested in learning whatever "career" has been assigned to them, or are just not too bright?

 

Fourth, the adaptation problem. This is especially true if you have more than one generation being bred on the ship. When you live a life in a sterilized, confined environment their whole lives, why would they want to live on a big dirty planet with diseases and wildlife trying to eat them? Plus, we have to select our astronauts and test them to make sure they don't freak out in confined spaces for long periods. That won't work here, we can't weed out any agoraphobics that may have a meltdown after hopping off their ship.

 

I say we wait for warp drive.

 

^_^

[Cmdr JFarrington 0]

Very interesting! Pale Vulcans - not green? Hm....

[Kansas_Jones 0]

Wow... imagine if they find a theoretically habitable planet only 16 light years away. It's amazing to think that the science fiction concept of sending long term colony ships to other star systems could even be realized within the century.

 

 

You can't have generational ships.

 

First, there is the human rights issues. We are basically condeming an unborn group of people to a life of servitude aboard a ship.

 

Overall, I think the generational ship concept works better in science fiction then actual implementation - for right now that is. Better yet - instead of sending out a generational ship to colonize - why not colonize the moon and set up a habitat? A bit closer to the neighborhood, I'd say.

 

I also find it interesting that humans have turned to space travel and exploration, rather then further exploring Earth's oceans - miles and miles of the water is left untouched.

 

Onward to Vulcan! :-)

[will_marx 0]

We're forgetting one very simple thing-- Suppose this ship gets to 40 Eridani, and there is no habitable planet in the "sweet spot". What's then, turn around and head back for another multi-generational trip home?

[Guest STSF Lebowski]

Well, first of all.. that's what the article was about, is an instrument that they are launching which will be able to detect planets and such. They wouldn't send anyone out unless they knew there was a habitable planet there already.

 

Secondly... I never said anything about generational ships. Though if a ship is automated enough, it's feasible. But there's also the whole suspended animation theory of long term space journey.. or who knows what kind of propulsions we may come up with in this century. If we somehow attained half the speed of light, it would only be a 30 year journey, which would make it feasible for the first generation to still be alive (if completely stir crazy). We'll have to see what NASA is doing in 80 years...

[will_marx 0]

Ooh, Saturn would be an awesome trip too.

 

I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that. You'll jeopardize the mission. I have great confidence in the mission, Dave.

[Dox Maturin 0]

Isn't China planning on setting up camp on the moon?

 

I haven't a clue what they intend to do when they get there. Build sand castles?

 

NASA to China: Good luck on the moon, don't bring back any more rocks.

Edited June 7, 2007 by Ens Dox Maturin

[will_marx 0]

Isn't China planning on setting up camp on the moon?

 

I haven't a clue what they intend to do when they get there. Build sand castles?

 

NASA to China: Good luck on the moon, don't bring back any more rocks.

 

Probably mine Helium-3 and work on making fusion a practical power source.

[LadyHitchhiker 0]

Why don't we go to Ganymede? Now that's a very interesting seeming place to visit and explore from everything I have read. Not that I'm against finding Vulcan. That would be beyond spectacular.