Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

SonicHedgePig t1_j5ohyyr wrote

12 years. We will have something resembling sci fi space travel by 2035 I think. Some scientists have built and are working on ion engines already. That's a huge step in the right direction. Once we have the science of time in space figured out the galaxy will be our oyster.

−3

baddecision116 t1_j5ok5cf wrote

>Once we have the science of time in space figured out the galaxy will be our oyster.

And you think we'll have this problem solved in 12 years?

3

Pimp_Daddy_Patty t1_j5ol641 wrote

Weren't we supposed to be colonizing mars in 12 years? 12 years after 1970 I should mention.

1

SonicHedgePig t1_j5olq9l wrote

Maybe, I don't know. I just have an exciting feeling that over the next couple of years things are going to move a bit more quickly in terms of space exploration. Can't explain it it's just a feeling I have.

Wishful thinking more than likely but a guy can dream.

2

Pimp_Daddy_Patty t1_j5omgux wrote

That's fair.

My thinking is along the lines of funding for such projects, past promises by governments as well as private sector (looking at you Elon), and any upcoming recessions that would also affect any progress.

2

SonicHedgePig t1_j5on2dt wrote

Your assessment is probably way more accurate than mine. I am a bit of a "fan boy" when it comes to getting out there and exploring. I just hope I get to see the start of it before I vacate the mortal world.

3

Aggravating_Teach_27 t1_j5p0l9h wrote

Ion engines don't help you at all in interstellar distances. Not even for moving people around the solar system as they take forever to gain speed. They are nice to send unmanned probes to far away places in the solar system in multi-year missions and that's about it.

I'm not disparaging ion engines tech, it's wonderful. But falls terribly short of the sci Fi stuff the OP mentioned.

The sad reality is the only likely development left with the physics we know is nuclear engines, and those would still allow for slow but bearable transportation inside the solar system.

Nothing we have or can build with our current tech and understanding of physics allows interstellar travel, at all. Never mind quick and easy interstellar travel like in sci Fi.

1

SonicHedgePig t1_j5p0yrm wrote

I was thinking more along the lines of local travel or even a generational colony ship in that time frame. I think we are very long way from interstellar travel.

Like I've said earlier in another comment I'm just a dreamer who wants to see the start of it before I die.

1