Comments on: Missing Australian water found on Mars

By: Robert Merkel

Robert Merkel — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 05:03:35 +0000

The fastest propulsion possible with absolutely known technology is nuclear pulse propulsion – the politically correct way of describing pushing a spacecraft along by setting off nuclear weapons behind it. Yes, this can probably be made to work. No, I don’t expect it to be implemented any time soon. It gets you maybe 1-2% of the speed of light.

Beyond that, you’re left with speculative possibilities like fusion drives, colossal light sails pushed along by enormous lasers focussed with equally enormous mirrors, or even cosmic slingshots made out of carbon nanotubes, and magnetic sails to slow down at the other end. Antimatter might be workable for uncrewed probes, but the colossal expense of collecting the tiny quantities available naturally, or manufacturing it in accelerators, makes it pretty unlikely for crewed exploration.

Doable in the centuries hence, sure. Doable in anybody here’s lifetime? Unlikely.

And don’t let Leslie Nielsen on board.

By: FDB

FDB — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 04:27:41 +0000

Yes, and that goes for Vilos Cohaagen too. Arnie for President of Mars!!!

By: Bismarck

Bismarck — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 04:27:09 +0000

Maybe not, Rogs, but at least we have a handle on the physics that might be involved. As far as I know, there is nothing even dreamt of that could propel a vehicle at more than a minute fraction of lightspeed, with the result that 20 light years would take thousands of years to traverse.

By: Liam

Liam — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 04:22:18 +0000

And don’t let Pauly Shore come with you.

By: FDB

FDB — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 04:10:54 +0000

Rogs, dude. Slap down a plexiglass dome, and you’re 3/4 done!

Let us all know how you go with the interstellar travel.

By: Rogs

Rogs — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 03:52:00 +0000

“Because of the 20 light year business?”

and terraforming mars is so easy?

By: Shaun

Shaun — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 01:21:47 +0000

Mars Attacks!

By: Wierd and Gilly

Wierd and Gilly — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 01:14:04 +0000

Crickets?

Wait, that’s too tortuous even for bring back gp on the abc

*slaps wrist*

By: Ziggy Stardust

Ziggy Stardust — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 01:11:10 +0000

There’s spiders, certainly.

By: It's a god-awful small affair to the girl with the mousey hair

It's a god-awful small affair to the girl with the mousey hair — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 00:57:48 +0000

Is there life on Mars?