Posted on 01/26/2016 2:19:03 PM PST by BenLurkin
We know there are planets orbiting other stars near to our Solar System, and many of these stars are similar to our own.
In the future, should mankind wish to leave the Solar System, we'll have a huge choice of stars we could travel to, and many could have the right conditions for life to thrive. But where would we go and how long would it take for us to get there? Just remember, this is all speculative and there is currently no benchmark for interstellar trips. That being said, here we go!
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The question of how long would it take to get somewhere in space is somewhat easier when dealing with existing technology and bodies within our Solar System. For instance, using the technology that powered the New Horizons mission - which consisted of 16 thrusters fueled with hydrazine monopropellant - reaching the Moon would take a mere 8 hours and 35 minutes.
On the other hand, there is the European Space Agency's (ESA) SMART-1 mission, which took it's time traveling to the Moon using the method of ionic propulsion. With this revolutionary technology, a variation of which has since been used by the Dawn spacecraft to reach Vesta, the SMART-1 mission took one year, one month and two weeks to reach the Moon.
So, from the speedy rocket-propelled spacecraft to the economical ion drive, we have a few options for getting around local space - plus we could use Jupiter or Saturn for a hefty gravitational slingshot. However, if we were to contemplate missions to somewhere a little more out of the way, we would have to scale up our technology and look at whatâs really possible.
(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...
To travel the speed of light you would need a power source with output of a star. You need to travel at a speed that would allow you to send out a “radar” beam to locate an object, reflect off the object and return in time for the electronics of the radar to calculate a safe path and give the ship time to maneuver around the object(s).
Yes that is what they meant, as often is the case here many replied only to the headline and not the article, clearly they mention outside the solar system but many (that indicate our sun) did not read the article.
It accelerates at a very low rate but steady—gradually increasing orbits are the result. But it uses relatively very little fuel to do so. That’s the big deal. Steady but low acceleration for a long time results in very high velocity. And you don’t have to accelerate all that fuel.
And yet the headline is so inadequate.
Thanks everyone who answered my question. These concepts fascinate me!
Those who pursue science should strive for perfection.
Seems like a hot air balloon (if it were possible) could get to the moon quicker than a year...
cool program I just installed it. One quick question. How do you fly around. Do you need a mouse to move? I figured I could use my touchpad on my laptop but I can rotate and thats it.
You use your arrow keys to move. I find using the 10-key on the keyboard works best, because you can use them to rotate your field of view as well.
a = increase your speed
z = to decrease speed.
If you are in the solar system, you can use the number keys above the letters to target individual planets.
1=mercury, 2=venus, 3=earth, etc.
h = selct SOL as target.
c = center target in view
a right-click on a planet will show satellites and other stuff
g = take you to whatever is targeted
if you want to immediately go to saturn, press 6g. you'll zip right there.
function keys control velocity in addition to using "a" and "b".
f1 = stop
f2 = 1 km/sec
f3= 1000 km/sec
f4= light speed (i.e., c)
f5= 10c
f6 = 1 astronomical unit/sec i.e., 1 AU/sec
f7=1 light year/sec
So, if you want to go to saturn the "slow" way, limiting yourself to the speed of light, press 6, c, f4 (6 targets saturn, c makes the targeted object the center of your screen, and f4 accelerates you to the speed of light) You'll have about an hour and a half to wait until you get there.
The 'h' key is important because it will help you get home if you go extra-solar. Finding earth from another galaxy is pretty much impossible without the 'h' key to help you orient. it will also help you because if you click your mouse on a star to see which one it is, celestia will 'forget' that you're still in the solar system so the keys to quickly locate planets won't work. press 'h', and using the numbers to select planets will work again.
There's lots of other stuff you can do, like go to 'celestia motherload' and download/install new,higher quality graphics files for planets. You can also download real and fictional starships. the models of starships are really impressive.
I have documented a couple of fun 'trips' on my website. Go to http://www.zeugmaweb.net/trips/ and select the Spacedock link to see some really cool stuff.
If you need other help, drop me a line. Celestia is the coolest program I've ever played with.
Nope.
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