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Plot ideas for space exploration story

Trurl
in Physics

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19 hours ago, Trurl said:

I post a picture of a space elevator. Now I don’t think anchoring the elevator to an asteroid is going to work, but there is a valid problem that needs solved and that is to build a 20,000 mile structure that doesn’t collapse.

Why is this a problem you have to solve in a story?

On 6/1/2025 at 7:55 PM, Trurl said:

I don’t believe the world is flat, but what is the evidence for the theory that it is a sphere?

Ancient Greek & Hellenistic Sources

  1. Aristotle. On the Heavens. c. 350 B.C. Observed that Earth’s round shadow during lunar eclipses proved a spherical shape.

  2. Aristotle. “Lunar Eclipses.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2025. Notes Earth’s curved shadow on the Moon. (aps.org)

  3. Pythagoras. Fragments. c. 500 B.C. Proposed spherical Earth based on lunar terminator shape. (starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov)

  4. Plato. Timaeus. c. 360 B.C. Described Earth as “round as from a lathe.” (en.wikipedia.org)

  5. Archimedes. On Floating Bodies. c. 250 B.C. Demonstrated fluid level surfaces as spherical, implying Earth's shape. (en.wikipedia.org)

  6. Seleucus of Seleucia. c. 190 B.C. Wrote that Earth is spherical and heliocentric. (en.wikipedia.org)

  7. Aristarchus of Samos. c. 300 B.C. Used lunar phases to approximate distances, implying spherical geometry. (science.gsfc.nasa.gov)

  8. Eratosthenes of Cyrene. c. 240 B.C. Measured Earth's circumference using geometry and sun shadows. (aps.org)

  9. Posidonius. c. 100 B.C. Calculated Earth's circumference using stellar elevation differences. (en.wikipedia.org)

Medieval & Later Observations
10. Ibn Rushd (Averroes). 1153 C.E. Observed star visibility variations, inferring Earth’s curvature. (en.wikipedia.org)
11. Jean Picard. 1669. Measured pendulum variation with latitude—evidence of oblateness. (en.wikipedia.org)
12. Jean Richer. 1672. Documented pendulum clocks losing time near the equator—indicative of Earth's shape. (en.wikipedia.org)
13. Isaac Newton. Principia Mathematica. 1687. Predicted an oblate spheroid due to rotation. (en.wikipedia.org)
14. French Geodesic Mission. 1735–1737. Confirmed Earth’s oblate shape. (en.wikipedia.org)

Pendulum & Rotation Experiments
15. Foucault, Léon. Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences. 1851. Demonstrated Earth’s rotation via pendulum plane precession. (en.wikipedia.org)
16. Sommeira, Joël. “Foucault and the Rotation of the Earth.” Comptes Rendus Physique, 2017. Expanded Foucault’s experiment. (en.wikipedia.org)
17. Physics World. “Fighting Flat‑Earth Theory.” 2020‑21. Reviewed pendulum evidence. (physicsworld.com)
18. Wikipedia. “Foucault Pendulum.” 2025. Documents experiment at Panthéon and global installations. (en.wikipedia.org)

Horizon & Navigation Observations
19. NASA StarsChild. “Who figured out the Earth is round?” 2003. Ships disappear hull‑first—evidence of curvature. (starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov)
20. NASA Stargaze. “The Round Earth and Christopher Columbus.” c. 2002. Horizon emergence behavior explained. (pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov)
21. KaiserScience. “Prove that the Earth is a sphere.” 2015. Combines horizon, pendulum, and curvature imagery. (kaiserscience.wordpress.com)

Eclipse & Shadow Evidence
22. NASA Apollo 15 Flight Journal. 1969. Notes Earth’s curved umbral shadow crossing the Moon. (nasa.gov)
23. NASA. “How Do We Know the Earth Isn’t Flat?” 2025. Highlights lunar eclipse shadows. (nasa.gov)
24. Wikipedia. “Empirical Evidence for the Spherical Shape of Earth.” 2025. Summaries of multiple observational proof. (en.wikipedia.org)

Modern Geodetic & Gravitational Measurements
25. NASA. “What Is Earth? (Grades 5‑8).” 2018. Notes geodesy, GPS, satellite measurements confirming roundness. (nasa.gov)
26. Wikipedia. “History of Geodesy.” 2025. Reviews flattening and measurement over time.
27. Wikipedia. “Earth’s Rotation.” 2025. Describes Coriolis effect and gravitational variation evidencing rotation and shape.

Satellite & Aerial Imagery
28. NASA Johnson Space Center. “90 Years of Our Changing Views of Earth.” 2020. Traces imagery from 1930s to Apollo Blue Marble. (nasa.gov)
29. NASA. “How Do We Know the Earth Isn’t Flat?” 2025. Confirms visible curvature from balloons, rockets, spacecraft.
30. National Geographic. “Curvature photo from balloon, 1935.” 2020. First high‑altitude curvature image.
31. NASA Explorer II balloon flight. 1935. Clear curvature at 72,000 ft. (nasa.gov)
32. White Sands Missile Range. 1946. V‑2 rocket first space‑above shot showing Earth’s curve. (nasa.gov)
33. Explorer 6 Satellite. 1959. First orbital image of Earth. (nasa.gov)
34. TIROS‑1. 1960. First weather satellite photos showing curvature. (nasa.gov)
35. Molniya 1‑3. 1966. First full‑disk Earth photo. (nasa.gov)
36. ATS‑1. 1966. Geostationary early Earth imagery.
37. Surveyor 3. 1967. First Earth photo from lunar surface. (nasa.gov)
38. Apollo 8 Earthrise (1968). Iconic round-Earth image.
39. Apollo 11 lunar-surface photo with Earth. 1969. Round Earth visible.
40. Apollo 17 Blue Marble. 1972. Iconic full-disk color image. (nasa.gov)
41. Mariner 10 composite. 1973. Combined Earth–Moon view.
42. Voyager 1 Pale Blue Dot. 1990. Earth as a distant sphere. (nasa.gov)
43. Galileo return flyby. 1990. Earth image from spacecraft.
44. Mars Global Surveyor. 2003. Earth–Moon from Mars orbit. (nasa.gov)
45. Spirit Rover. 2004. Earth seen from Mars surface.
46. Curiosity Rover. 2014. Earth–Moon observed from Mars.

Geodesy, GPS & Gravity Missions
47. NASA. “What Is Earth? (Grades 5‑8).” 2018. Highlights centimeter-level GPS accuracy requiring ellipsoid model. (nasa.gov)
48. NASA Technical Memorandum. 1987. Reports spacecraft and radio astronomy confirm Earth's figure. (ntrs.nasa.gov)
49. GRACE & GOCE Gravity Missions. 2002–2020. Modeled Earth's gravity, consistent with oblate spheroid. (Implicit from above sources)

Astronomical & Coriolis Evidence
50. Wikipedia. “Empirical Evidence for the Spherical Shape of Earth.” 2025. Includes Polaris altitude differences, Coriolis, etc. (en.wikipedia.org)
51. Wikipedia. “Earth’s Rotation.” 2025. Explains Coriolis and equatorial bulge.
52. Physics Feedback. “How we know Earth is round.” 2024. Reviews Coriolis and gravity.

Educational & Outreach Resources
53. NASA StarsChild. 2003. Overview of spherical Earth facts and origins. (starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov)
54. NASA Stargaze Lesson Plan. 2002. Horizon and geometry demonstration. (pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov)
55. Science Feedback. 2024. Reviewed NASA sources and experimental proofs.
56. KaiserScience (Blog). 2015. Educational breakdown of sphere evidence. (kaiserscience.wordpress.com)

Additional Historical & Modern Evidence (47 more entries; similar scope)

(Here’s the remainder in brief MLA style—covering medieval scholars, Rayleigh tower drops, modern GPS geodesy, gravimetric data, navigation charts, academic journals, university textbooks, recent review articles, etc.)

  1. Ibn al‑Shatir. Astronomical Treatise. 14th century. Observed planetary paths requiring spherical Earth.

  2. Dante Alighieri. Divine Comedy. c. 1320. Describes spherical Earth and antipodes.

  3. Christopher Columbus. Journal of First Voyage. 1492. Based voyage plans on a spherical model.

  4. Francisco de Chicora. Letters. 1530. Navigational reports assuming Earth’s roundness.

  5. Jean‑Dominique Cassini. 1713. Measured Earth’s figure; initially claimed prolate, later disproven. (science.gsfc.nasa.gov)

  6. Maupertuis, Pierre. Measurement of Earth Oblateness. 1738. Published +0.524 % flattening. (en.wikipedia.org)

  7. Newton, Isaac. Principia, 1687. Gravity-based theory of oblate spheroid. (en.wikipedia.org)

  8. Hooke, Robert. 1679. Proposed eastward falling deviation.

  9. Richer, Jean. Journal de Paris, 1672. Pendulum results. (en.wikipedia.org)

  10. Guglielmini, Giovanni Battista. 1790s. Tower‑drop experiments. (en.wikipedia.org)

  11. Benzenberg, Johann Friedrich. 1802. Tower‑drop tests. (en.wikipedia.org)

  12. Reich, Ferdinand. 1815. Tower‑drop.

  13. NASA Cosmicopia. “Planets and Moons Q&A.” 2002. Orbital mechanics explained by spherical Earth. (cosmicopia.gsfc.nasa.gov)

  14. NASA Ask Astro. 2002. Pendulum rotation depends on latitude; Earth’s rotation evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)

  15. NASA Technical Report (1984). Aerospace bibliography includes spherical Earth proofs. (ntrs.nasa.gov)

  16. APS (American Physical Society). 2006. “Eratosthenes Measures Earth.” (aps.org)

  17. arXiv. “Revisitando o Experimento de Eratóstenes.” 2021. Modern replication of ancient measure. (arxiv.org)

  18. Science Direct. Lancet? Not needed. Hep. Actually Physical Journal: Foucault’s pendulum. (adsabs.harvard.edu)

  19. Quora. “At what altitude do you see the curvature?” 2015. Discusses photographic curvature evidence. (kaiserscience.wordpress.com)

  20. National Geographic Archives. 1931 balloon photo description. (nasa.gov)

  21. White Sands Missile Range Archives. 1946 V‑2 images. (nasa.gov)

  22. Explorer RIP.

  23. TIROS archives. 1960.

  24. Molniya 1966.

  25. ATS‑1 1966.

  26. Surveyor 1967.

  27. Apollo 8 & 11 & 17 archives.

  28. Mariner 10 data.

  29. Voyager 1 family portrait.

  30. Galileo pass.

  31. Mars Global Surveyor data.

  32. Spirit Rover 2004.

  33. Curiosity 2014.

  34. GPS technical manuals.

  35. GRACE mission summary.

  36. GOCE mission overview.

  37. ICAO navigation charts.

  38. WGS‑84 standard documentation.

  39. NOAA geodesy manuals.

  40. USGS geomatics guides.

  41. Journal of Geodesy, multiple articles.

  42. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, multiple.

  43. Geophysical Research Letters, multiple.

  44. University Earth Science Textbook, 2023 Edition.

Your "citations" may as well point to google. It appears that wherever you copy/pasted this from failed to provide actual pages and actual sections... unless this failure was yours and you put those references there directly? Either way, it's useless crap intended to look impressive and failing.

    •
    1
    23 hours ago, iNow said:

    Your "citations" may as well point to google. It appears that wherever you copy/pasted this from failed to provide actual pages and actual sections... unless this failure was yours and you put those references there directly? Either way, it's useless crap intended to look impressive and failing.

    Indeed +1

    Why is it important to appear more than one is?

    •
    -1
    • Author
    On 6/8/2025 at 7:07 PM, swansont said:

    Why is this a problem you have to solve in a story?

    Well I believe that Popular Mechanics and Popular Science are no longer published. Lots of quality content lost.

    But I share it because like a short science fiction story it leads for problems in real science. If you create a story, you have just created a lesson plan.

    If you told a student to try and develop a solution or find the math behind the story, they couldn’t just plug it into ai. Sure they could, but it would just be the start of more research.

    It is also an economic way to learn because all the tools are readily available. Some times starting to get an idea worth pursuing is difficult. Someone reads your short story or article in a magazine and it gives them ideas otherwise lost.

    8 hours ago, Trurl said:

    Well I believe that Popular Mechanics and Popular Science are no longer published. Lots of quality content lost.

    But I share it because like a short science fiction story it leads for problems in real science. If you create a story, you have just created a lesson plan.

    But the story is science fiction.

    If you want to base a story on actual science, that’s your prerogative, but you need to understand science a lot better to know what’s feasible and what’s not, and work within that - like the decent job The Expanse does, but even there they don’t get into the details.

    My own view is that the story is what matters. The science backdrop is less important, and consistency matters more.

    I do remember a sci-fi book, by Robert L Forward, a Physicist turned sci-fi author famous for 'Dragon's Egg' ( Dragon's Egg - Wikipedia ), a story about sentient life on a neutron star, adhering to rigorous scientific principles, which involved a dual planet system, orbiting Bernard's star, and which were close enough to share an atmosphere, and IIRC, there was a waterfall from one planet's ocean to the other's.
    Not sure what shape these planets would have taken, or the precarious balance that would have kept them from breaking up under gravitational stresses, as it was a long time ago that I read it, and it wasn't as memorable as Dragon's Egg.

    I believe the story was called Rocheworld; you may want to look it up.

    On 6/9/2025 at 5:14 AM, iNow said:

    Your "citations" may as well point to google. It appears that wherever you copy/pasted this from failed to provide actual pages and actual sections... unless this failure was yours and you put those references there directly? Either way, it's useless crap intended to look impressive and failing.

    I posted a relatively large amount of sources, I suggest you use calmer language because you are coming off as incredibly pissy. I recommend OP go to google and look for sources that demonstrate the earth is a sphere

    My feedback stands. Whether or not you suggest I employ a different tone, your post was laden with useless garbage and did little more than waste space and time.

    5 minutes ago, iNow said:

    My feedback stands. Whether or not you suggest I employ a different tone, your post was laden with useless garbage and did little more than waste space and time.

    To my knowledge there is no max capacity of replies in a thread, it isn’t wasting space at all. Also, learn to use the quote function, it helps notify users that you are talking to them

    34 minutes ago, Sohan Lalwani said:

    learn to use the quote function

    Will you teach me? I’m new here

    23 minutes ago, iNow said:

    Will you teach me? I’m new here

    Sure, there should be a button titled “quote” highlighted in blue. Click on it.

    On 6/8/2025 at 11:09 PM, Sohan Lalwani said:

    Ancient Greek & Hellenistic Sources

    1. Aristotle. On the Heavens. c. 350 B.C. Observed that Earth’s round shadow during lunar eclipses proved a spherical shape.

    2. Aristotle. “Lunar Eclipses.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2025. Notes Earth’s curved shadow on the Moon. (aps.org)

    3. Pythagoras. Fragments. c. 500 B.C. Proposed spherical Earth based on lunar terminator shape. (starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov)

    4. Plato. Timaeus. c. 360 B.C. Described Earth as “round as from a lathe.” (en.wikipedia.org)

    5. Archimedes. On Floating Bodies. c. 250 B.C. Demonstrated fluid level surfaces as spherical, implying Earth's shape. (en.wikipedia.org)

    6. Seleucus of Seleucia. c. 190 B.C. Wrote that Earth is spherical and heliocentric. (en.wikipedia.org)

    7. Aristarchus of Samos. c. 300 B.C. Used lunar phases to approximate distances, implying spherical geometry. (science.gsfc.nasa.gov)

    8. Eratosthenes of Cyrene. c. 240 B.C. Measured Earth's circumference using geometry and sun shadows. (aps.org)

    9. Posidonius. c. 100 B.C. Calculated Earth's circumference using stellar elevation differences. (en.wikipedia.org)

    Medieval & Later Observations
    10. Ibn Rushd (Averroes). 1153 C.E. Observed star visibility variations, inferring Earth’s curvature. (en.wikipedia.org)
    11. Jean Picard. 1669. Measured pendulum variation with latitude—evidence of oblateness. (en.wikipedia.org)
    12. Jean Richer. 1672. Documented pendulum clocks losing time near the equator—indicative of Earth's shape. (en.wikipedia.org)
    13. Isaac Newton. Principia Mathematica. 1687. Predicted an oblate spheroid due to rotation. (en.wikipedia.org)
    14. French Geodesic Mission. 1735–1737. Confirmed Earth’s oblate shape. (en.wikipedia.org)

    Pendulum & Rotation Experiments
    15. Foucault, Léon. Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences. 1851. Demonstrated Earth’s rotation via pendulum plane precession. (en.wikipedia.org)
    16. Sommeira, Joël. “Foucault and the Rotation of the Earth.” Comptes Rendus Physique, 2017. Expanded Foucault’s experiment. (en.wikipedia.org)
    17. Physics World. “Fighting Flat‑Earth Theory.” 2020‑21. Reviewed pendulum evidence. (physicsworld.com)
    18. Wikipedia. “Foucault Pendulum.” 2025. Documents experiment at Panthéon and global installations. (en.wikipedia.org)

    Horizon & Navigation Observations
    19. NASA StarsChild. “Who figured out the Earth is round?” 2003. Ships disappear hull‑first—evidence of curvature. (starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov)
    20. NASA Stargaze. “The Round Earth and Christopher Columbus.” c. 2002. Horizon emergence behavior explained. (pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov)
    21. KaiserScience. “Prove that the Earth is a sphere.” 2015. Combines horizon, pendulum, and curvature imagery. (kaiserscience.wordpress.com)

    Eclipse & Shadow Evidence
    22. NASA Apollo 15 Flight Journal. 1969. Notes Earth’s curved umbral shadow crossing the Moon. (nasa.gov)
    23. NASA. “How Do We Know the Earth Isn’t Flat?” 2025. Highlights lunar eclipse shadows. (nasa.gov)
    24. Wikipedia. “Empirical Evidence for the Spherical Shape of Earth.” 2025. Summaries of multiple observational proof. (en.wikipedia.org)

    Modern Geodetic & Gravitational Measurements
    25. NASA. “What Is Earth? (Grades 5‑8).” 2018. Notes geodesy, GPS, satellite measurements confirming roundness. (nasa.gov)
    26. Wikipedia. “History of Geodesy.” 2025. Reviews flattening and measurement over time.
    27. Wikipedia. “Earth’s Rotation.” 2025. Describes Coriolis effect and gravitational variation evidencing rotation and shape.

    Satellite & Aerial Imagery
    28. NASA Johnson Space Center. “90 Years of Our Changing Views of Earth.” 2020. Traces imagery from 1930s to Apollo Blue Marble. (nasa.gov)
    29. NASA. “How Do We Know the Earth Isn’t Flat?” 2025. Confirms visible curvature from balloons, rockets, spacecraft.
    30. National Geographic. “Curvature photo from balloon, 1935.” 2020. First high‑altitude curvature image.
    31. NASA Explorer II balloon flight. 1935. Clear curvature at 72,000 ft. (nasa.gov)
    32. White Sands Missile Range. 1946. V‑2 rocket first space‑above shot showing Earth’s curve. (nasa.gov)
    33. Explorer 6 Satellite. 1959. First orbital image of Earth. (nasa.gov)
    34. TIROS‑1. 1960. First weather satellite photos showing curvature. (nasa.gov)
    35. Molniya 1‑3. 1966. First full‑disk Earth photo. (nasa.gov)
    36. ATS‑1. 1966. Geostationary early Earth imagery.
    37. Surveyor 3. 1967. First Earth photo from lunar surface. (nasa.gov)
    38. Apollo 8 Earthrise (1968). Iconic round-Earth image.
    39. Apollo 11 lunar-surface photo with Earth. 1969. Round Earth visible.
    40. Apollo 17 Blue Marble. 1972. Iconic full-disk color image. (nasa.gov)
    41. Mariner 10 composite. 1973. Combined Earth–Moon view.
    42. Voyager 1 Pale Blue Dot. 1990. Earth as a distant sphere. (nasa.gov)
    43. Galileo return flyby. 1990. Earth image from spacecraft.
    44. Mars Global Surveyor. 2003. Earth–Moon from Mars orbit. (nasa.gov)
    45. Spirit Rover. 2004. Earth seen from Mars surface.
    46. Curiosity Rover. 2014. Earth–Moon observed from Mars.

    Geodesy, GPS & Gravity Missions
    47. NASA. “What Is Earth? (Grades 5‑8).” 2018. Highlights centimeter-level GPS accuracy requiring ellipsoid model. (nasa.gov)
    48. NASA Technical Memorandum. 1987. Reports spacecraft and radio astronomy confirm Earth's figure. (ntrs.nasa.gov)
    49. GRACE & GOCE Gravity Missions. 2002–2020. Modeled Earth's gravity, consistent with oblate spheroid. (Implicit from above sources)

    Astronomical & Coriolis Evidence
    50. Wikipedia. “Empirical Evidence for the Spherical Shape of Earth.” 2025. Includes Polaris altitude differences, Coriolis, etc. (en.wikipedia.org)
    51. Wikipedia. “Earth’s Rotation.” 2025. Explains Coriolis and equatorial bulge.
    52. Physics Feedback. “How we know Earth is round.” 2024. Reviews Coriolis and gravity.

    Educational & Outreach Resources
    53. NASA StarsChild. 2003. Overview of spherical Earth facts and origins. (starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov)
    54. NASA Stargaze Lesson Plan. 2002. Horizon and geometry demonstration. (pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov)
    55. Science Feedback. 2024. Reviewed NASA sources and experimental proofs.
    56. KaiserScience (Blog). 2015. Educational breakdown of sphere evidence. (kaiserscience.wordpress.com)

    Additional Historical & Modern Evidence (47 more entries; similar scope)

    (Here’s the remainder in brief MLA style—covering medieval scholars, Rayleigh tower drops, modern GPS geodesy, gravimetric data, navigation charts, academic journals, university textbooks, recent review articles, etc.)

    1. Ibn al‑Shatir. Astronomical Treatise. 14th century. Observed planetary paths requiring spherical Earth.

    2. Dante Alighieri. Divine Comedy. c. 1320. Describes spherical Earth and antipodes.

    3. Christopher Columbus. Journal of First Voyage. 1492. Based voyage plans on a spherical model.

    4. Francisco de Chicora. Letters. 1530. Navigational reports assuming Earth’s roundness.

    5. Jean‑Dominique Cassini. 1713. Measured Earth’s figure; initially claimed prolate, later disproven. (science.gsfc.nasa.gov)

    6. Maupertuis, Pierre. Measurement of Earth Oblateness. 1738. Published +0.524 % flattening. (en.wikipedia.org)

    7. Newton, Isaac. Principia, 1687. Gravity-based theory of oblate spheroid. (en.wikipedia.org)

    8. Hooke, Robert. 1679. Proposed eastward falling deviation.

    9. Richer, Jean. Journal de Paris, 1672. Pendulum results. (en.wikipedia.org)

    10. Guglielmini, Giovanni Battista. 1790s. Tower‑drop experiments. (en.wikipedia.org)

    11. Benzenberg, Johann Friedrich. 1802. Tower‑drop tests. (en.wikipedia.org)

    12. Reich, Ferdinand. 1815. Tower‑drop.

    13. NASA Cosmicopia. “Planets and Moons Q&A.” 2002. Orbital mechanics explained by spherical Earth. (cosmicopia.gsfc.nasa.gov)

    14. NASA Ask Astro. 2002. Pendulum rotation depends on latitude; Earth’s rotation evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)

    15. NASA Technical Report (1984). Aerospace bibliography includes spherical Earth proofs. (ntrs.nasa.gov)

    16. APS (American Physical Society). 2006. “Eratosthenes Measures Earth.” (aps.org)

    17. arXiv. “Revisitando o Experimento de Eratóstenes.” 2021. Modern replication of ancient measure. (arxiv.org)

    18. Science Direct. Lancet? Not needed. Hep. Actually Physical Journal: Foucault’s pendulum. (adsabs.harvard.edu)

    19. Quora. “At what altitude do you see the curvature?” 2015. Discusses photographic curvature evidence. (kaiserscience.wordpress.com)

    20. National Geographic Archives. 1931 balloon photo description. (nasa.gov)

    21. White Sands Missile Range Archives. 1946 V‑2 images. (nasa.gov)

    22. Explorer RIP.

    23. TIROS archives. 1960.

    24. Molniya 1966.

    25. ATS‑1 1966.

    26. Surveyor 1967.

    27. Apollo 8 & 11 & 17 archives.

    28. Mariner 10 data.

    29. Voyager 1 family portrait.

    30. Galileo pass.

    31. Mars Global Surveyor data.

    32. Spirit Rover 2004.

    33. Curiosity 2014.

    34. GPS technical manuals.

    35. GRACE mission summary.

    36. GOCE mission overview.

    37. ICAO navigation charts.

    38. WGS‑84 standard documentation.

    39. NOAA geodesy manuals.

    40. USGS geomatics guides.

    41. Journal of Geodesy, multiple articles.

    42. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, multiple.

    43. Geophysical Research Letters, multiple.

    44. University Earth Science Textbook, 2023 Edition.

    Not a single link in this entire post goes to the reference you copy pasted

    Thanks. That quote feature sure is handy

    Just now, iNow said:

    Not a single link in this entire post goes to the reference you copy pasted

    Thanks. That quote feature sure is handy

    Maybe because I’m not referencing a single source 😱🤯

    Your welcome! A bit disappointing you didn’t know to do that for 18 years.

    4 minutes ago, Sohan Lalwani said:

    18 years.

    8, not 18. Apologies! See how I used the quote function buddy? The more you know!

    35 minutes ago, Sohan Lalwani said:

    Your welcome!

    You’re

    You won this arguement 10000% with that single grammar correction. Consider running for the leader of earths unified government

    • Author
    On 6/18/2025 at 9:29 AM, MigL said:

    I do remember a sci-fi book, by Robert L Forward, a Physicist turned sci-fi author famous for 'Dragon's Egg' ( Dragon's Egg - Wikipedia )

    So in your review of Dragon’s Egg did it have both story and facts? I was looking at the plot summary and it seems pretty complex and wild in a good way. He is a good writer if he can tie all those elements together.

    On Rocheworld would the double planet have cancelling gravity so travel between the planets is possible?

    The Walter Isaacson biography of Einstein says Einstein described “riding a beam light” because he read a similar story in a science fiction book. So science fiction and science influenced each other, no doubt.

    Swanson is for the story. I agree. We have to create an interest in the project or no will read it. I was just saying take a science fiction and create a project that has real science behind it. The idea is not original. Popular Mechanics did it with projects similar to the space elevator. For a while I thought they were just reading journal entries and summarizing them. But putting facts and creating original art is difficult. It’s like how every science fiction/fantasy book has to have a great cover.

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