Latest Breaking News

csziggy

(34,189 posts)

37. I wonder how soon we could send out a generation ship?

Wed Feb 22, 2017, 05:38 PM

Feb 2017

Since it will take more than a few human lifespans to get there with our current technology.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_ship

Of course until we learn how to effectively run a biosphere that does not poison itself and can be regulated for a few hundred years, that will not happen.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

62 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Major Discovery! 7 Earth-Size Alien Planets Circle Nearby Star [View all] brooklynite Feb 2017 OP

Trump to take credit Friend or Foe Feb 2017 #1

I get just a whiff of "please don't cut our budget" off this show. Orsino Feb 2017 #6

I hope Trump doesn't figure out that we have a space program. lagomorph777 Feb 2017 #11

Oh they're already planning on more or less eliminating the Earth Science Division. briv1016 Feb 2017 #31

Yeah, can't have people seeing the alternative to "Alternative Facts" lagomorph777 Feb 2017 #57

Complains that he would have won the popular vote if not for too many aliens voting. moda253 Feb 2017 #17

Why not? pressbox69 Feb 2017 #48

k and r...nt Stuart G Feb 2017 #2

They'd know a lot about each other even before achieving spaceflight DavidDvorkin Feb 2017 #3

I am watching this live feed, PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2017 #4

Bettter photo..... riversedge Feb 2017 #5

Very clear illustration! lagomorph777 Feb 2017 #10

I could not wrap my head around the mock ups in the OP. Lovely and so exciting (this discovery) riversedge Feb 2017 #14

what's with the smoke, spilled water and feathers? Blue_Tires Feb 2017 #30

Steam...shows those planets are hot, boils water off. BlancheSplanchnik Feb 2017 #33

I assume this is supposed to indicate the closer ones are steamy, the middle ones have liquid water Fast Walker 52 Feb 2017 #43

If you were a Trappist, and you knew something about . . FairWinds Feb 2017 #7

My Dad was a Trappist... lagomorph777 Feb 2017 #9

Trump will probably want to see his visa . . FairWinds Feb 2017 #12

I doubt it MFM008 Feb 2017 #51

I thought about us going in and destroying life and resources there. BlancheSplanchnik Feb 2017 #34

That is amazing! Kimchijeon Feb 2017 #8

only 40 light years Ohioblue22 Feb 2017 #13

only until the warp-drive goes fully operational. nt msanthrope Feb 2017 #23

Paging Dr. Alcubierre. n/t MicaelS Feb 2017 #39

Their astronomers probably feel sorry for us N77VG Feb 2017 #15

How do we build a wall ... Martin Eden Feb 2017 #16

Google"Dyson sphere" JHB Feb 2017 #40

No need Martin Eden Feb 2017 #42

Big! harun Feb 2017 #18

I wonder what the radiation is like in that neighborhood Sen. Walter Sobchak Feb 2017 #19

The star is a red dwarf the size of Jupiter. MicaelS Feb 2017 #38

@ the speed of light it would only take 78 yearas round trip Botany Feb 2017 #20

Nanu Nanu! True Dough Feb 2017 #26

A common misconception psychopomp Feb 2017 #47

But what if they had cable hook up? Botany Feb 2017 #55

This really worries me. Seven planets the right size and location to support life? tclambert Feb 2017 #21

Yep. Maybe someone has built a zoo to keep us in. hunter Feb 2017 #25

exhibit will be called elmac Feb 2017 #27

One of those is the dinosaur planet. hunter Feb 2017 #32

If one is populated by dinosaurs, it should be named Ireta csziggy Feb 2017 #35

Pack extra underwear and socks. My somewhat rusty math says justhanginon Feb 2017 #22

I wonder how soon we could send out a generation ship? csziggy Feb 2017 #37

Vulcans have already been there Bayard Feb 2017 #24

Don't let the Koch Bros or our new Sec. of State know. They will want to send people to mine and appleannie1943 Feb 2017 #28

Probably the best news I'll hear all month derby378 Feb 2017 #29

This is the solar system that Firefly the science fiction series is set in exboyfil Feb 2017 #36

They're probably tidally locked, but yeah, this is definitely a Firefly like solar system. joshcryer Feb 2017 #41

All earths lasers should be turned on to fire off Morse code type messages directed at the system Baclava Feb 2017 #44

I visited a Trappist Monestary once. They made cookies and butter. miyazaki Feb 2017 #45

I was born and raised on one of them. Wish I could go back. olddad56 Feb 2017 #46

Soon... Beartracks Feb 2017 #49

Man. Wonder what the gravitational effects on the planets would be like, yagotme Feb 2017 #50

Astrologers' heads would explode! csziggy Feb 2017 #58

Don't know, yagotme Feb 2017 #59

Those planets would give a whole new scale to geologic time! csziggy Feb 2017 #60

I'm not so sure that I would want to be the person viewing them. yagotme Feb 2017 #61

I bet if a ship is ever sent there it will be capable of monitoring for decades csziggy Feb 2017 #62

I volunteer! meadowlander Feb 2017 #52

I want to move to one NOW! nt Laffy Kat Feb 2017 #53

Maybe they are already on the way Baclava Feb 2017 #54

Can't get here soon enough, IMO. Laffy Kat Feb 2017 #56