News, To Boldly Go to New Worlds, NASA Announces '100-Year Starship' (Earth, spacecraft) - Outer space, planets, astronomy, exploration of space, NASA - City-Data Forum

JD59 · 10-22-2010, 12:31 PM

(Oct. 22) -- It might sound like the stuff of science fiction, but a NASA official says that "within a few years" scientists will unveil a prototype for a spaceship capable of taking earthlings to other worlds.

Speaking at a Long Now Foundation conference in San Francisco over the weekend, Simon Worden, center director at NASA's Ames Research Center in California, said a project is under way called the "Hundred Year Starship."

To Boldly Go to New Worlds, NASA Announces '100-Year Starship'

rgomez912 · 10-22-2010, 01:10 PM

but who will sign up to go on a one way trip?

Edit* I ask this becuase on another article about this spacecraft, it states people will board the ship and be droped off on a planet, and never set foot on Earth for the remainder of their lives.

NASA and DARPA Plan

Tek_Freek · 10-22-2010, 01:18 PM

I am biting my tongue so hard it is bleeding.

PITTSTON2SARASOTA · 10-22-2010, 07:38 PM

Must be one heck of a laser or microwave emitter to make this concept feasible for ANY distance at all. Keep in mind the beam will spread out and become proportionately weaker as distance increases(rolls eyes); IF the beam eminates from a ground based fixed facility. Simply presposterous IMO....considering the increasing distance of the ship from the Earth and the distortion caused by our atmosphere; as well as the sheer power necessary for this proposal. I'll bet my money on ION PROPULSION THANKYOU!

//www.city-data.com/forum/scien...will-take.html

proudmommy · 10-22-2010, 07:55 PM

What are the odds that enough funding will be approved to budget even 1% of the price tag of this?

harry chickpea · 10-22-2010, 08:42 PM

Ah yes, if we can split the atom, why not split infinitives?

QuixoticHobbit · 10-22-2010, 10:40 PM

It'll be kinda funny when these people arrive at their destination only to be greeted by folks who just settled the planet utilizing recently developed warp speed engines

harry chickpea · 10-23-2010, 12:17 AM

There are at least a half dozen sci-fi books and novellas that use that as the premise.

Tek_Freek · 10-23-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

Ah yes, if we can split the atom, why not split infinitives?

At least they were bold about it...

round tuit · 10-27-2010, 02:14 AM

My kids used to think that Alex Courage's "Boldlygo" was the name of a planet.