Quantum vacuum plasma thruster and Warp Drive.....

This is rather interesting, it seems at least theoretically we can power a warp drive vessel using a Quantum Vacuum Thruster

A quantum vacuum plasma thruster (or Q-thruster) is a theoretical deep-space thruster that would not require any propellants. Thus, a spacecraft utilizing such thrusters would not need to carry any propellants on board for their operation. A research group at the NASA Johnson Space Center is investigating this possibility.[1]

Source




Any thoughts?

reply to post by Kashai


I would not be to hasty to form an opinion. I will wait for the second version to come out.

reply to post by ezekielken


With technology like this we can occupy the solar system and make use of the resources available.

Interesting but this is still just in the theoretical stages. We are probably a good 100 years off of a reliable, well tested form of deep space travel.

We don't even have tours to the moon yet.

Baby steps

reply to post by Tinkerpeach


And by that time our population will be around 10 billion.

Kashai
reply to post by Tinkerpeach

 

And by that time our population will be around 10 billion.

And is that a bad thing?

reply to post by Tinkerpeach


Yes, that would be a very bad thing.

reply to post by Kashai


Marvin the Martian comes to mind It just sounds like something he would say!

Kashai
reply to post by Tinkerpeach

 

Yes, that would be a very bad thing.

I disagree.

When Cortez landed in the New World he burnt his ships so his men would have to figure out how to survive where they were.

If we push our population to the breaking point it will force humanity to get up there in space and start colonizing.

I think that would be a good thing.

Well, as much as I like this.

A good working warp drive will make our solar system the new play ground.
It isn't happening any time soon yet...

We will be on Mars, where the first colonists will have build settlements on the surface.
The mission is scheduled, for the 202ties. It is a one way ticket, with those who wish to try out their luck.

If that worked out, the first warp drive can create the first inter planetary, public transport connection between Mars and Earth.

But if the warp drive can manage to go faster the warp speed... It remains a question, but it is what will rule out further exploration of space. The nearest star is 4 light years away. Distances are to fast, to simply think that light speed really will be our ticket, into interstellar space.

reply to post by Sinter Klaas


I'm betting that trip never happens.

They will make a heck of a lot of money off the show however.

Funny that people believe its real.

reply to post by Tinkerpeach


What show ? If they don't go... No show.

Why wouldn't they send the volunteers ? Even if the explode, ratings will be of the charts.
Besides, it's a Dutch company that is creating this possibility, and the Dutch usually hold their end of the agreement.

reply to post by Sinter Klaas

But if the warp drive can manage to go faster the warp speed... It remains a question, but it is what will rule out further exploration of space. The nearest star is 4 light years away. Distances are to fast, to simply think that light speed really will be our ticket, into interstellar space.

Theoretically, warp speed is faster than the speed of light, because of relativity.

The warp-drive ship itself would never be going faster than the speed of light, but the warped space-time around it could help the spacecraft achieve an effective speed of 10 times the speed of light within the confines of White's concept.

reply to post by Kashai


If the world was perfect, every post doc astrophysicist would be working on this problems instead of taking jobs on wallstreet or menial office jobs, or endless number crunching jobs that serve no real purpose...

one of the next big steps in time travel.

reply to post by Kashai


Hm, S&F! I'll definitively keep an eye on this thread.

It's known as zero-point energy. It can only be utilized in a strong vacuume. Outerspace is what again? This is the 95% of dark matter that pervades the universe. It keeps things suspended in place. The ancients likened outer space to water. Maby they were onto something we have forgotten. The Zero-point energy is inexhaustable,clean,and takes up no space. Basically a matter/anti-matter engine. Any craft that can generate a meissner field can draw this energy from the very fabric of space. It exist in all places ,at all times.

Tinkerpeach
If we push our population to the breaking point it will force humanity to get up there in space and start colonizing.

No, it will only lead to starvation and poverty. Population pressure is one of the lousiest justifications for space colonisation. For one thing, spaceflight requires advanced capabilities that people afflicted by overpopulation will never have, as they struggle with basics. And spaceflight is not going to be as widespread to be of any use to solve population pressures, that is completely unrealistic.

A ship like this could make it to the nearest star within 11 months. In so far as our solar system, the Oort cloud, being the furthest objects in our solar system, is a light year away (about 3 months travel one way).

Keep in mind that 10 times the speed of light would be 18,600,000 miles per second. Mars at its closest is about 56 million miles away and with Saturn about 500 million miles away.

Maslo

Tinkerpeach
If we push our population to the breaking point it will force humanity to get up there in space and start colonizing.

No, it will only lead to starvation and poverty. Population pressure is one of the lousiest justifications for space colonisation. For one thing, spaceflight requires advanced capabilities that people afflicted by overpopulation will never have, they struggle with basics. And spaceflight is not going to be as widespread to be of any use to solve population pressures, that is completely unrealistic.

Actually the big financial incentive is in relation to the mineral wealth. Keep in mind that 150 years ago common folk could barely read or write, life expectancy was roughly 48 years old.

It would be an enormous advantage to open space travel to the masses

Any thoughts?

PS: Correction to the other post I offered earlier today.....

Saturn is 1 billion miles away at its closest and the vessel could reach 10 light years in a year.

Meaning that the nearest star is about 6 month away.

List of nearest stars