Universe Discussion Thread

rsmv2you said:
I like that idea. See how much deeper we could go with that technology. But is the heat the limitation for us to go deeper? Or is it the technology to go deeper? (incoming inception jokes)
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Heat, pressure, magnetism, gravitation, and radiation. I doubt you would be able to transmit a signal to earth so close to the sun without your signal being completely raped by the magnetic fields. You wouldn't really be able to land since there isn't a surface so I guess you would try to orbit, but you would have to be going incredibly fast to avoid spiraling down into the sun. I guess nothing is impossible with enough energy you could potentially escape the suns gravitational pull, and just take whatever you recorded back to earth. I can't really speculate on material strength and what's possible in the future, I'd go for something super reflective coating the entire ship. Again you'll have to protect against radiation and magnetic fields because I'm assuming sentitive electronics will be on board and will be susceptible to being instantly fried. Also I guess you would have to calculate time slowing down near the huge gravitational field of the sun.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_time_dilation
I don't really know how this might affect space craft operations, maybe when you try to transmit a signal or something, or tracking the ship from a location farther away from the gravitational field.
 
An idea I've had, ever since I heard about that reprap thing, is a probe with a (much more than current technology, please understand) fully functional 3d printer designed to print and implement its own upgrades. That way we could send it off, develop better technology, and send it the schematics. Or do the same thing, but have the probe also be able to mine asteroids to build copies of itself.
 
StTheo said:
An idea I've had, ever since I heard about that reprap thing, is a probe with a (much more than current technology, please understand) fully functional 3d printer designed to print and implement its own upgrades. That way we could send it off, develop better technology, and send it the schematics. Or do the same thing, but have the probe also be able to mine asteroids to build copies of itself.
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But what if it went all Skynet and then made copies of missiles and shit?
We'd be toast
 
StTheo said:
I never watched the terminator movies (well, enough to recognize "Skynet") - is that what happened?
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Oh, I'm being vaguely faecetious.

But in the Terminator movies, Skynet was a computer system that became self-aware and started producing robots to kill mankind.

So I'm kinda saying that by giving robots the ability to self-replicate and absorb new knowledge and technologies, it's kinda a bad idea.

I mean, a Skynet situation would likely never happen...

But what if this space probe got hacked, eh?
 
Vorsprung said:
Oh, I'm being vaguely faecetious.

But in the Terminator movies, Skynet was a computer system that became self-aware and started producing robots to kill mankind.

So I'm kinda saying that by giving robots the ability to self-replicate and absorb new knowledge and technologies, it's kinda a bad idea.

I mean, a Skynet situation would likely never happen...

But what if this space probe got hacked, eh?
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Probes have to conserve power, which means less complicated functions - especially if these probes were to be building copies of themselves. Unless they were lucky enough to find fuel for a nuclear reactor (and have the ability to create one), they'd have to rely completely on solar power.

I've also been thinking about another idea: intentionally contaminate Mars. Screw the preservation of bacteria that may or may not exist - if they do exist on Mars, they'll likely exist elsewhere in the Universe.
  • Seed the planet with extremophile bacteria designed specifically for the Martian climate. We could grow them (in more hospitable labs) in such massive quantities that even if 99% die, the remaining 1% will be the first successful extraterrestrial pioneers of our planet. If they are capable of surviving, and if there is no other bacterial life, they'll have no competition, and no reason to stop expanding all over the surface of Mars.
  • Determine what makes the survivors different than their unfortunate companions, and use their traits to grow bacteria that can convert the martian landscape to a slightly less inhospitable place. In other words, make the survival chance of Earth-born extremophiles go from 1% to 5%. This could also be the proof of concept for larger-scale terraforming (if we could somehow create a magnetosphere).
  • As the survival rates of Earth-born extremophiles slowly rises, the planet will become slightly more Earth-like. The goal is not to create a Martian-sized Earth, but to make large-scale colonization of Mars less expensive (via less expensive agriculture). We're unlikely to ever be able to walk safely on the Martian surface without a suit, but we can at least make it less costly for humans to extract nutrients. The gains will still help with future endeavors.
 
But then there's the debate (similar to remaining environmentally-friendly here on Earth) that we'd be messing with the way Mars was meant to be, red and barren.
 
Uhm, basically, you wouldn't get too close. Paradoxically, the sun's atmosphere, the corona, is far, far hotter than the sun. And given we only barely managed to land a probe on Venus.... it's not gonna happen. It'd just evaporate, or the sheer force of wind out from the sun would blow it apart.

Also: Vorsprung is Australian too? :eek: Which state? :D
 
Redezra said:
Also: Vorsprung is Australian too? :eek: Which state? :D
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3vans said:
NSW, same as me and cacher.
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And Skryter, and Mikey, and probably others.

Oy, and Redezra, what was the giveaway? My constant usage of "G'day" and other such idioms, and the fact I blatantly advertise that I am Aussie? :D

Anyway, where you from, Missy? You Aussie too then?
 
Vorsprung said:
And Skryter, and Mikey, and probably others.

Oy, and Redezra, what was the giveaway? My constant usage of "G'day" and other such idioms, and the fact I blatantly advertise that I am Aussie? :D

Anyway, where you from, Missy? You Aussie too then?
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Vorsprung said:
But what do I know, I'm Australian. I think the sun is just a big tennis ball that makes us all hot. x3
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I still wonder what gave you away =/

And I would like to insert my opinion on extraterrestial life.
Men in Black.
That is all.
 
Also, for anyone who gets a rise off amazing space photos and a few to discuss about.
http://www.reddit.com/r/spaceporn

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7082/7140339743_6d9f24a85d_k.jpg
O1lFe.jpg

657111main_1-SOT_120606_TOV.jpg

iss_shuttle_legault_f.jpg

ibtH0K95qwNIlM.jpg
 
GreenEarth said:
Heat, pressure, magnetism, gravitation, and radiation. I doubt you would be able to transmit a signal to earth so close to the sun without your signal being completely raped by the magnetic fields. You wouldn't really be able to land since there isn't a surface so I guess you would try to orbit, but you would have to be going incredibly fast to avoid spiraling down into the sun. I guess nothing is impossible with enough energy you could potentially escape the suns gravitational pull, and just take whatever you recorded back to earth. I can't really speculate on material strength and what's possible in the future, I'd go for something super reflective coating the entire ship. Again you'll have to protect against radiation and magnetic fields because I'm assuming sentitive electronics will be on board and will be susceptible to being instantly fried. Also I guess you would have to calculate time slowing down near the huge gravitational field of the sun.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_time_dilation
I don't really know how this might affect space craft operations, maybe when you try to transmit a signal or something, or tracking the ship from a location farther away from the gravitational field.
Click to expand...
And interesting effect of this is that humans (or anything, really) in a stronger gravitational field live longer relative lives, but their perception of time is the same.
 
Vorsprung said:
And Skryter, and Mikey, and probably others.

Oy, and Redezra, what was the giveaway? My constant usage of "G'day" and other such idioms, and the fact I blatantly advertise that I am Aussie? :D

Anyway, where you from, Missy? You Aussie too then?
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Perth. Lol
 
I loved that picture so much, I took a screenshot and made it my iPad background. I've honestly always been super intrigued with space, and I've always wanted to go see what was out there, be an astronaut. But the math and science is out of my comprehension and probably always will be. I've also always wanted to be that person that builds a dome on the moon, but I soon came to realize that would totally ruin the moon. I wish I could love math and science as much as I do designing and drawing, literature and stuffs. But hey. This picture will satisfy me for now. Anyone else wanting to be an astronaut? Even though you really can't because of Obama...
 
Unismurfsity said:
I loved that picture so much, I took a screenshot and made it my iPad background. I've honestly always been super intrigued with space, and I've always wanted to go see what was out there, be an astronaut. But the math and science is out of my comprehension and probably always will be. I've also always wanted to be that person that builds a dome on the moon, but I soon came to realize that would totally ruin the moon. I wish I could love math and science as much as I do designing and drawing, literature and stuffs. But hey. This picture will satisfy me for now. Anyone else wanting to be an astronaut? Even though you really can't because of Obama...
Click to expand...

You can! The private space industry is getting into gear now, it's gonna be aaaaaaaaawesome. :p
 
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