[seekfrieddy]

Not to poke holes, but Ramjet has been around for years.

But it's hard to predict the future. Maybe one day we will be able to do some of those things.

Oh and just a little add in. We do have the technology to make an orbital elevator. Only problem right now is manufacturing.

I believe he means the Bussard Ramjet - this is a design that uses magnetic fields to funnel interstellar hydrogen into a fusion chamber, the fusion is used to heat any remaining Hydrogen and the resulting Helium gas and and provide thrust. Whilst the concept has, indeed, been around for years, I can assure you that it is a long way from being a practical proposition for the human race.

confirmed here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bussard_ramjet

The "Skyhook", a concept created by the science fiction writer Arthur C Clark, is theoretically possible but, again, a long way from being implemented due to the massive cost of the initial construction and the logistics problems, as much has to be constructed in orbit.

[nvideoe]

Er, it's some kind of vacuum cleaner right?

i thought the same

[viiagrag]

I thought it was a new Dyson vaccuum cleaner in the shape of a ball that you just roll along the floor or something [rofl]

But yeah, a solid Dyson Sphere is almost impossible to construct, even for advanced civilisations.

[seekfrieddy]

I thought it was a new Dyson vaccuum cleaner in the shape of a ball that you just roll along the floor or something [rofl]

But yeah, a solid Dyson Sphere is almost impossible to construct, even for advanced civilisations.

Hollow!
When I first heard of the concept, I wondered what they did to stabilize it in orbit around the star.

[lionsiy]

I believe he means the Bussard Ramjet - this is a design that uses magnetic fields to funnel interstellar hydrogen into a fusion chamber, the fusion is used to heat any remaining Hydrogen and the resulting Helium gas and and provide thrust. Whilst the concept has, indeed, been around for years, I can assure you that it is a long way from being a practical proposition for the human race.

confirmed here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bussard_ramjet

The "Skyhook", a concept created by the science fiction writer Arthur C Clark, is theoretically possible but, again, a long way from being implemented due to the massive cost of the initial construction and the logistics problems, as much has to be constructed in orbit.

Thanks! exactly what I mean, not the fission products sucker on the side of your "space fighter" lol

[texbrease]

The problem with a lot of these projects: Dyson sphere, Space elevator etc is that while theoreticaly possible we quickly run into materials problems, such as what exactly would a ringworld be made of?

Countering the centrifugal and other forces tending to tear a structure like that to shreds would be a nightmare. In fact, on that scale probably even the solar wind might exert forces capable of damaging or destroying the structure. Not to mention how to keep it centered and a whole host of other issues.

Dyson spheres are in actuality probably a bit more stable, But if you have the tech to build one, then the need for intersteller travel might become moot. With BILLIONS of earths worth of new real estate you would have more than enough territary to explore just in your own solar system to keep you busy for centuries. (or more) Given enough time, you might not even need to go find aliens. They would simply evolve somewhere on the sphere! Maybe more than once. Plus, visiting aliens might decide settle in to stay a while as well.

Space elevators are much easier, but the human race is still technologically not quite there yet. For instance, what exactly would your cable be made of? And on another note, for sure you dont wanna be anywhere in the area if that puppy breaks! (think of what happens when an aircraft carrier tailhook snag line snaps: Now scale that up by a couple million times and think of hundreds of miles and a zillion tons of nearly indestructable cable whipping around through the atmosphere before (maybe) breaking up and slamming to the earth.

Ouch!! Can you imagine what a terrorist target something like that would be? The human race is not sane enough yet to have things like that laying around. Nice food for thought though.

[offemyJuccete]

The problem with a lot of these projects: Dyson sphere, Space elevator etc is that while theoreticaly possible we quickly run into materials problems, such as what exactly would a ringworld be made of?

Countering the centrifugal and other forces tending to tear a structure like that to shreds would be a nightmare. In fact, on that scale probably even the solar wind might exert forces capable of damaging or destroying the structure. Not to mention how to keep it centered and a whole host of other issues.

Dyson spheres are in actuality probably a bit more stable, But if you have the tech to build one, then the need for intersteller travel might become moot. With BILLIONS of earths worth of new real estate you would have more than enough territary to explore just in your own solar system to keep you busy for centuries. (or more) Given enough time, you might not even need to go find aliens. They would simply evolve somewhere on the sphere! Maybe more than once. Plus, visiting aliens might decide settle in to stay a while as well.

Space elevators are much easier, but the human race is still technologically not quite there yet. For instance, what exactly would your cable be made of? And on another note, for sure you dont wanna be anywhere in the area if that puppy breaks! (think of what happens when an aircraft carrier tailhook snag line snaps: Now scale that up by a couple million times and think of hundreds of miles and a zillion tons of nearly indestructable cable whipping around through the atmosphere before (maybe) breaking up and slamming to the earth.

Ouch!! Can you imagine what a terrorist target something like that would be? The human race is not sane enough yet to have things like that laying around. Nice food for thought though.

Which is why NONE of this will happen... the human race will be far dead before we even travel outside our own solar system IMO

[Aqgkvwzm]

I'm a geek, not a nerd.




I thought those are the ones I saw on TV where the dude says "Unlike other vacuums, ours doesn't use suction."

Could be wrong. Not sure my TV even still works. Ain't gonna bother to check.

thats "ours doesn't lose suction" you plank... I think you need to book an appointment to get ur ears seringed

[rofl]

[Aqgkvwzm]

also what would be the point to have a sphere that captures all of the suns energy ?

every fooker would be dead because the sun has been blotted out by a fook off massive dyson vacuum

[GarryPaterson]

also what would be the point to have a sphere that captures all of the suns energy ?

every fooker would be dead because the sun has been blotted out by a fook off massive dyson vacuum

Originally Posted by Maverick4 Would this 'Dyson Sphere' still allow a certain amount of the sun's rays through? The energy, warmth, and light it provides is rather important.

The Sphere would encompass the inner planets. 1234567890

[thakitt]

Has the FM community decided whether we're going to do this or not? I vote yes.

[viiagrag]

Which is why NONE of this will happen... the human race will be far dead before we even travel outside our own solar system IMO

the human race is more resilient than you think in my eyes