Posted on 12/15/2014 5:01:23 PM PST by cripplecreek
A spaceship powered by nuclear bombs secretly launched in the 1960s. A colony ship on 100-year journey to spread humanity to the stars. These central themes of the SyFy Channel's epic "Ascension" miniseries this week sound like pure science fiction, U.S. scientists actually worked to build such a spaceship in the 1960s.
In "Ascension," a three-part SyFy miniseries that launches tonight (Dec. 15), 600 people live aboard an Orion-class nuclear spacecraft on a mission to Proxima Centauri. The mission launched in 1963, when the Space Race was in full swing and the Cold War made the threat of global nuclear war an uncomfortable possibility. This leads to Project Ascension, led by a Werner von Braun-esque Abraham Enzmann, who dreamed up a spaceship taller than the Empire State Building that is propelled by nuclear bombs.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
I probably can’t catch it tonight, but I do plan on a binge watch at some point.
I might check this out. As a kid, I was fascinated by stuff like Project Daedalus and Project Longshot as a kid (Orion was a bit before my time). That we could actually find a way to travel between star systems still gives me goosebumps.
Don Draper... IN SPACE!!!
Cool video of Orion drive testing done using conventional explosives in the 50s.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c0a_1227682772
It actually worked but the nuclear test ban treaty killed it.
I’ll probably watch. I saw the commercials and it certainly is a pretty original idea for a sci-fi show. I’m not sure how long they can stretch the premise out for though.
I’ll be watching...
You know, in the 60’s we’d of been launching into an almost unknown void toward a likely lookin star that’s close. We’re advanced enough now that in a couple of decades we will be able to answer most of the questions about the star, planets and likely life on them.
Don Draper and Cylon number 6.
I’ll be watching it.
Well the one planet we know about around our closest neighbor is a scorched ball of rock.
Its only a 3 night miniseries which is probably good.
I’m glad you posted this. My husband was curious about the show and asked me to DVR it. I’d forgotten all about it.
I’m recording it . Watching “ Destination Tokyo “ .
Niven and Pournelle used an Orion drive as a key plot element in Footfall. Great hard SF novel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footfall
http://www.amazon.com/Footfall-Larry-Niven/dp/0345323440
May have to check this out. Getting remote from wife now to set DVR; I don’t do much TV.
Looks good, thanks for the heads up.
Complete with soundtrack, ha.
Footfall bump.
The problem with SyFy shows is they revert to Sharknado special effects which is funny stuff but sometimes I like some good old fashion true Sci-Fi
I will be watching it — to see how good or bad it is.
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