US Navy Successfully Tests Real Life Laser Gun

[Solus]

70 days to Mars.....time change...

Any one remember a movie based on a large wager (1.6 million pounds today) that a trip around the world in a little over a week more that that could not be done?

[billt]

The problem with all of these hyper velocity space vehicles, is the force they put on a human body. I read that a Chevy ZO-6 Corvette would have to maintain it's 0-60 maximum acceleration level FOR 13 MONTHS in order to achieve the speed of light, (186,000 miles a second). That's a long time to be pinned into your seat! Only to have to endure the same negative G load to slow back down.

[Solus]

The problem with all of these hyper velocity space vehicles, is the force they put on a human body. I read that a Chevy ZO-6 Corvette would have to maintain it's 0-60 maximum acceleration level FOR 13 MONTHS in order to achieve the speed of light, (186,000 miles a second). That's a long time to be pinned into your seat! Only to have to endure the same negative G load to slow back down.

Good point.  Here is a thread that is attempting to answer the question "How long would it take to accelerate to light speed for a human passenger" 

Interestingly the time of one calculation using the max G-Force a human can withstand and stay conscious is 83 days...similar enough to the time in the original article to figure they used that G-Force limit in their calculations. 

There is also talk about using Black Hole "tricks" to both limit the effects of acceleration and to reduce the force needed to accelerate the mass of that box of black holes on board.  Sounds to speculative and a wee bit into the future to start booking rides.

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=45631.0

[tombogan03884]

It's been "speculative" and "a wee bit into the future" since the 1940's and 50's !! 
This is classic Sci Fi technology being made real. Kind of like Jules Verne and that submarine.
Or the Star Trek "communicator".

[billt]

Another thing we have to keep in perspective, is the "Space Age" started in 1957 with Sputnik...... 58 years ago.

[Sponsor]

[Solus]

It's been "speculative" and "a wee bit into the future" since the 1940's and 50's !! 
This is classic Sci Fi technology being made real. Kind of like Jules Verne and that submarine.
Or the Star Trek "communicator".

If you ever find yourself watching one of the original Star Trek TV series episodes, watch for the digital bridge clock.

It was digital, but the numbers "advanced" by cards flipping down to reveal the next number. 


http://www.amazon.com/niceeshop-Retro-Clock-Internal-Operated/dp/B007GC4ENO

[Solus]

Another thing we have to keep in perspective, is the "Space Age" started in 1957 with Sputnik...... 58 years ago.

I remember.  Watched it move across the sky. Only worked for a month or two till the batteries died.

Too cheap to put in solar panels and rechargeable batteries I guess 

[tombogan03884]

The biggest miracle of Sputnik was the fuel. It was straight alcohol and they played hell keeping the workers from drinking it all.