Jump to content

Blog post: swansont: Floating Some Ideas

Featured Replies

What It's Like To Spend 55 Days in Space

 

Moreover, it's not clear that private space initiatives are the answer to the problem. "Space exploration is not an immediate payback, fiscally or otherwise," Ivins says. "It is a generational kind of investment. And the only group that can afford to make that kind of an investment is a government."

 

This is not exclusive to NASA, it's true of research in general.

 

Plus, for the benefit of geeks across the universe, Ivins explains why the Borg cube from Star Trek can maneuver just as well as any starfighter that Hollywood has ever dreamed up. "In space, they’re one and the same," says Ivins.

 

This is probably the one bit of science that space-based science fiction gets pretty consistently wrong — that maneuvering a craft in space would be anything like a plane or even a submarine. Most of the time the engine exhaust only points to the rear, and the engines are firing even when traveling at constant speed. Which is wrong even before you get to the fancy maneuvering.
Read and comment on the full post

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.