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To: BenKenobi
Since telescope resolution is tied to overall size,we will need new telescopes that are to the MMT and Keck scopes as they are to the scopes found in the science toys for children,before we can see the details necessary.And those scope will have to be space or Moon based to avoid the limits imposed by Earth's atmosphere.

Even sending a probe to the nearest star system would require a huge investment using current propulsion methods and the results might only be seen by our great-great-grandchildren.The data could be beamed back to us at the speed of light,getting the dat-gathering platform there will take a long time.And it would almost certainly have to incorporate a foolproof nuclear power reactor .Someone care to calculate the transmitter power required and antenna size to send the probe's data back at even "dial-up" rates?

46 posted on 01/23/2011 10:23:01 AM PST by hoosierham (Waddaya mean Freedom isn't free ?;will you take a credit card?)
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To: hoosierham; BenKenobi
I wish they'd revive the TAU program.

TAU, Thousands of Astronomical Units, was intended to fly -wait for it- thousands of astronomical units up out of the dusty galactic plain to give us a clear view of the core and extent of our home galaxy and a very good baseline for a stereo view of local stars and systems.

This would not only provide us accurate distances to all the visible stars but a superb dust-free view of our own galaxy as well.

If you think the Hubble images are grand, you ain't seen nuthin'!

57 posted on 01/23/2011 10:38:47 AM PST by null and void (We are now in day 733 of our national holiday from reality. - 0bama really isn't one of US.)
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To: hoosierham

We could do an unmanned mission today, for not that much.

Nuclear pulse + slingshot and assembly in space. Cost per tonne, around 15 bucks, not including the cost of the slingshot.

Total cost would be around a couple trillion dollars, for a 50 year one way shot at AC. Of course there is plenty that could go wrong, but it could be done today with existing technology.

You could probably do it manned as well, if you were willing to spend 10x the cost to bring aboard the essentials for life aboard a spaceship for 50 years + the increase in nuclear fuel.

The only question is the will to do something rather silly like trusting 10 trillian dollars to 2 18 year old kids on a one way shot to AC, without any way to know if it’s been done thanks to relativistic effects.


66 posted on 01/23/2011 10:45:52 AM PST by BenKenobi
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To: hoosierham
Great-great grandchildren? You're right if humans evolve to live tens of thousands of years within the next generation.
129 posted on 01/23/2011 1:14:17 PM PST by HenpeckedCon (What pi$$es me off the most is that POS commie will get a State Funeral!)
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