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In reply to the discussion: Planet Found in Nearest Star System to Earth [View all]dchill
(38,447 posts)3. Yes - and have Mitch McConnel...
Be the pilot.
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For a few decades, particularly within the last 20 years, there have been orgs seriously planning
DRoseDARs
Oct 2012
#6
I'm not even sanguine that humans will land on Mars by 2040 given all the technical problems.
entanglement
Oct 2012
#46
Radiation is a significant issue. It is probably solvable, but it's going to take a while.
entanglement
Oct 2012
#78
Based on the speed of the Pioneer spacecraft it would take over 7000 years to get there.
former9thward
Oct 2012
#59
The Pioneer spacecraft's a pretty ridiculous yardstick to use for that sort of thing. (nt)
Posteritatis
Oct 2012
#65
5th paragraph says 6mil km, which is a LOT closer in than Mercury is here, but where there's one...
DRoseDARs
Oct 2012
#7
I thought that the jury was sill out on Proxima Centauri being part of the star system.
R. Daneel Olivaw
Oct 2012
#8
I know what you mean, there are a LOT of red dwarfs close by that are invisible to the naked eye.
Spitfire of ATJ
Oct 2012
#12
What are the odds? Pretty much zero. There are exotic proposals for colonizing Mercury...
DRoseDARs
Oct 2012
#17
It's probably habitable to the sort of beings that have molten tungsten for blood. (nt)
Posteritatis
Oct 2012
#25
..."at speeds approaching the speed of light." Cool your jets there, no we don't.
DRoseDARs
Oct 2012
#16
Well, no, we DO have ion drives that have already been used for 4 deep space missions so far...
DRoseDARs
Oct 2012
#21
Your ethusiasm for ion drives is wonderful, but sadly Einstein is having none of it...
DRoseDARs
Oct 2012
#22
"fuel requirements and the mass of that fuel grows exponentially the faster you go"
Spitfire of ATJ
Oct 2012
#26
Interstellar "space" isn't actually empty. Free gasses, dust will be slamming into the probe...
DRoseDARs
Oct 2012
#27
The continuous thrust of an ion drive is fine when you have an external energy source
muriel_volestrangler
Oct 2012
#29
You seem to be confusing energy requirements several orders of magnitude different
muriel_volestrangler
Oct 2012
#31
You would have to use nuclear to power the probe anyway because you would be too far,...
Spitfire of ATJ
Oct 2012
#76
That's scifi and I've heard of another one where you generate gravity in front of the space craft,..
Spitfire of ATJ
Oct 2012
#44
True, but it is the first effort at continuous drive with low fuel which is the key to high speeds..
Spitfire of ATJ
Oct 2012
#49
True but the tanks used could be used for the fuel of an ion drive so it wouldn't run out.
Spitfire of ATJ
Oct 2012
#60
"You are the children of a dead planet, earthdeirdre, and this death we do not comprehend.
FVZA_Colonel
Oct 2012
#20
Just send an iPhone attached to a plutonium power supply and a backyard telescope. n/t
Ian David
Oct 2012
#35