Enahs wrote on Nov 20, 2016, 14:22:
. The trip in-between is virtually insignificant from a cost standpoint,

Not really. With current technology it'll take 270 days to reach Mars. If they can cut that down to 70 days, that's a massive decrease in requirements for food, water and most importantly: shielding against cosmic radiation.

Shielding is mass, which costs extra fuel to push up into orbit, which costs more fuel, etc etc. And then there's also no need for fuel to keep your rockets going on the trip in between.

If this works, it's a massive cost savings.

Enahs wrote on Nov 20, 2016, 14:22:

VaranDragon wrote on Nov 20, 2016, 10:22:

Enahs wrote on Nov 20, 2016, 09:19:

Rigs wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 16:40:
I'm sure he's watching with great interest. This could really jumpstart the whole 'space tourism' thing...

No, it will have no impact on the space tourism thing. This, if works, is a low thrust device. It is only useful as propulsion for the long distances between planets. It will not help get up and away from earth, or down on other planets either once we get there.

Yeah but one of Musk's main goals is to establish a living colony on Mars by 2100. A drive that significantly decreases the travel time between planets, or that can cheaply move large ammounts of freight between worlds would go a long way in bringing him closer to that goal.

The cost is all in leaving the ground, getting into orbit and then out of orbit. And then on the destination entering orbit there, and getting down safely. The trip in-between is virtually insignificant from a cost standpoint, and this is all this technology is good for.

Time is money right? Dead astronauts are a bad investment right? If you don't think this is huge, you're not thinking straight. A 70 day trip to Mars compared to a 8-9 month trip is a HUGE reduction in cost, not to mention the fact that it simplifies the trip considerably, you don't need any reaction mass for the ship itself, which is another HUGE reduction in cost. Sure you're gonna need rocket fuel to get to orbit and land and whatnot, but thats something that we do pretty well with conventional rockets today. The interplanetary part was ALWAYS the big deal breaker with regards to sending manned missions to anywhere further than lunar orbit.

Orbital space station and space elevators ftw. Better still, create atmosphere re-entry suits so people can leap from said orbital space station and free fall to earth. What a blast that would be.

VaranDragon wrote on Nov 20, 2016, 10:22:

Enahs wrote on Nov 20, 2016, 09:19:

Rigs wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 16:40:
I'm sure he's watching with great interest. This could really jumpstart the whole 'space tourism' thing...

No, it will have no impact on the space tourism thing. This, if works, is a low thrust device. It is only useful as propulsion for the long distances between planets. It will not help get up and away from earth, or down on other planets either once we get there.

Yeah but one of Musk's main goals is to establish a living colony on Mars by 2100. A drive that significantly decreases the travel time between planets, or that can cheaply move large ammounts of freight between worlds would go a long way in bringing him closer to that goal.

The cost is all in leaving the ground, getting into orbit and then out of orbit. And then on the destination entering orbit there, and getting down safely. The trip in-between is virtually insignificant from a cost standpoint, and this is all this technology is good for.

Enahs wrote on Nov 20, 2016, 09:19:

Rigs wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 16:40:
I'm sure he's watching with great interest. This could really jumpstart the whole 'space tourism' thing...

No, it will have no impact on the space tourism thing. This, if works, is a low thrust device. It is only useful as propulsion for the long distances between planets. It will not help get up and away from earth, or down on other planets either once we get there.

Yeah but one of Musk's main goals is to establish a living colony on Mars by 2100. A drive that significantly decreases the travel time between planets, or that can cheaply move large ammounts of freight between worlds would go a long way in bringing him closer to that goal.

Rigs wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 16:40:
I'm sure he's watching with great interest. This could really jumpstart the whole 'space tourism' thing...

No, it will have no impact on the space tourism thing. This, if works, is a low thrust device. It is only useful as propulsion for the long distances between planets. It will not help get up and away from earth, or down on other planets either once we get there.

Free Skates

Total employment insurance for emergency room doctors and staff.

jdreyer wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 22:28:

Cutter wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 18:33:

Creston wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 11:40:
I've been following the progress on this thing for a few years now, and it just keeps being amazing.

I sure hope the test in space in a few months will bear out.

Yeah, guess we'll see. If it does that's a complete game changer. Or maybe it just means we were wrong about Newts third law. Wouldn't be the first time that something accepted as gospel in science turned out to be wrong.

Iknowrite? Remember that time they thought the earth was flat and if you went too far you'd just fall off the edge? Morans.

Don't be fatuous. It happens all the time in science. New ideas are generally met with great resistance and ridicule most of the time. It generally takes a long time for acceptance. Then an even longer time when we find out it may not be valid because our instruments and models simply weren't refined enough at the time.

Ridiculed discoverers, vindicated mavericks

Resistance to New Ideas

Resistance to new ideas seems to be an enduring human characteristic, and scientists –despite extolling the virtues of objectivity-- have often proved themselves very human in this respect. Many of the great breakthroughs of modern science were initially rejected or ignored, sometimes for decades, and mainly because of bias. It is instructive to consider a few examples of scientific advances that were originally rejected....

jdreyer wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 22:28:

Cutter wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 18:33:

Creston wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 11:40:
I've been following the progress on this thing for a few years now, and it just keeps being amazing.

I sure hope the test in space in a few months will bear out.

Yeah, guess we'll see. If it does that's a complete game changer. Or maybe it just means we were wrong about Newts third law. Wouldn't be the first time that something accepted as gospel in science turned out to be wrong.

Iknowrite? Remember that time they thought the earth was flat and if you went too far you'd just fall off the edge? Morans.

That's the great thing about science; you can be proven wrong and it only makes science better when you are. Even if you learn you didn't know nearly as much about something than you thought you did, you've still advanced your knowledge.

Cutter wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 18:33:

Creston wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 11:40:
I've been following the progress on this thing for a few years now, and it just keeps being amazing.

I sure hope the test in space in a few months will bear out.

Yeah, guess we'll see. If it does that's a complete game changer. Or maybe it just means we were wrong about Newts third law. Wouldn't be the first time that something accepted as gospel in science turned out to be wrong.

Iknowrite? Remember that time they thought the earth was flat and if you went too far you'd just fall off the edge? Morans.

Creston wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 11:40:
I've been following the progress on this thing for a few years now, and it just keeps being amazing.

I sure hope the test in space in a few months will bear out.

Hmmm, interesting. Count me among those who "missed the hype", guess I'll go see what I can find out about this thing because that article definitely tweaked my interest...

This comment was edited on Nov 19, 2016, 19:35.

Creston wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 11:40:
I've been following the progress on this thing for a few years now, and it just keeps being amazing.

I sure hope the test in space in a few months will bear out.

Yeah, guess we'll see. If it does that's a complete game changer. Or maybe it just means we were wrong about Newts third law. Wouldn't be the first time that something accepted as gospel in science turned out to be wrong.

VaranDragon wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 14:49:

Creston wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 11:40:
I've been following the progress on this thing for a few years now, and it just keeps being amazing.

I sure hope the test in space in a few months will bear out.

Fingers crossed. I hope Elon Musk is paying attention.

I'm sure he's watching with great interest. This could really jumpstart the whole 'space tourism' thing...now, as for the provider of the link...I'm gonna assume 'Derek' means 'Derek Smart', yes?

That all said, if I don't get a chance when the time comes, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BLUE! My daughter's birthday is in ten days too, she turns a very rambunctious 19. Unfortunately, she's in KY while I'm in north FL, so a Skype chat will have to suffice. She's like you, Blue, she doesn't like to make a fuss about it. Myself, I stopped counting birthdays when I reached 25. Been working out fine ever since! 'Course it helps that I don't look a day over 21 anyway...well, except for the gray/white beard and sideburns, ha!


=-Rigs-=

Wow, yeah -- the kid on the "Free Skates" is quite impressive. In my youth I think I could have propelled myself on those things, having been a big roller skater, but nothing more than that.

Creston wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 11:40:
I've been following the progress on this thing for a few years now, and it just keeps being amazing.

I sure hope the test in space in a few months will bear out.

Fingers crossed. I hope Elon Musk is paying attention.

Pigeon wrote on Nov 19, 2016, 11:33:
Those free skates are neat. I think I'll get some cause I have a sudden urge to break my wrists and crack my head open.

Free Skates? More like Fatal Head Trauma Skates...very impressive balance and coordination on display by that kid.

Color me impressed and envious.

Happy Pre-Birthday Blue. So when are they going to put you in the Natural History Museum?

I've been following the progress on this thing for a few years now, and it just keeps being amazing.

I sure hope the test in space in a few months will bear out.

Those free skates are neat. I think I'll get some cause I have a sudden urge to break my wrists and crack my head open.