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NASA's Warp Drive

Discussion in 'Science & Technology' started by GenSeneca, Nov 27, 2012.

  1. GenSeneca Well-Known Member

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    The first steps towards interstellar travel have been taken, but the stars are very far away. Voyager 1 is about 17 light-hours distant from Earth and is traveling with a velocity of 0.006 percent of light speed, meaning it will take about 17,000 years to travel one light-year. Fortunately, the elusive "warp drive" now appears to be evolving past difficulties with new theoretical advances and a NASA test rig under development to measure artificially generated warping of space-time.

    [IMG]

    The warp drive broke away from being a wholly fictional concept in 1994, when physicist Miguel Alcubierre suggested that faster-than-light (FTL) travel was possible if you remained still on a flat piece of spacetime inside a warp bubble that was made to move at superluminal velocity. Rather like a magic carpet. The main idea here is that, although no material objects can travel faster than light, there is no known upper speed to the ability of spacetime itself to expand and contract. The only real hint we have is that the minimum velocity of spacetime expansion during the period of cosmological inflation was about 30 million billion times the speed of light.

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    Few things capture my imagination quite like the thought of mankind conquering the stars and exploring beyond the range of our current celestial limitations. As for a discussion... What priorities do you think NASA should have? Developing warp drive? Moon base? Mars base? Muslim Outreach? Construction of a Death Star?
  2. dogtowner Super Moderator

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    thats pretty cool. glad those boys get some opporttunity to do "space stuff".
  3. steveox Well-Known Member

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    [IMG]
    Scotty Take me up,,Lets see whats out in the universe
  4. GenSeneca Well-Known Member

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    You'll be wearing a red shirt Steve...
  5. GenSeneca Well-Known Member

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    Here's a quote from the article again to preface my statement:

    The main idea here is that, although no material objects can travel faster than light, there is no known upper speed to the ability of spacetime itself to expand and contract. The only real hint we have is that the minimum velocity of spacetime expansion during the period of cosmological inflation was about 30 million billion times the speed of light.

    Think about whatever galaxy, star, or nebula holds the record for being the farthest away from us in the known universe... With a minimum speed of 30 million-billion times the speed of light, we'd travel from earth to there in a fraction of a second. That's simply incredible. I'm kinda bummed that nobody else seems to share my love of space. :(
  6. steveox Well-Known Member

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    Thanks
    Red= Security
  7. GenSeneca Well-Known Member

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    A "redshirt" is a stock character in fiction who dies soon after being introduced. The term originates with fans of Star Trek television series (1966–1969), from the red shirts worn by Starfleet security officers who frequently die during episodes.
  8. steveox Well-Known Member

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    This woman never died
    [IMG]
  9. dogtowner Super Moderator

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    touche

    but it is common for those who die to also be in red.
  10. PLC1 Super Moderator

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    Science fiction once again could become science reality.

    With a hundred billion (10^11) galaxies, each with a hundred billion (or so) stars, we would have 10^22 stars to to visit. If only one star in a billion has an earth like planet, that is ten trillion planets to explore. It's mind boggling.

    I wonder how many of those 10 trillion planets are inhabited by intelligent life?
  11. Gipper Well-Known Member

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    I hope intelligent life exists somewhere....we sure don't have it here.:LOL:
  12. steveox Well-Known Member

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    Yes!!! Its just a matter of time of when NASA finds another earth like ours. Our planet isnt the only one of its kind.
  13. dogtowner Super Moderator

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    they found lots of them and maybe with this warp drive they can get you there in under a thousand years.
  14. steveox Well-Known Member

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    1000 light years on the Enterprise can get you there in 6 months.
  15. dogtowner Super Moderator

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    its GOT warp drive.

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