Microgravity Makes Interstellar Travel Impossible, Say Experts

[Hevva]

Microgravity Makes Interstellar Travel Impossible, Say Experts

Tiny feet can't pitter-patter in zero-G.

Over time, microgravity does lots of nasty things to organic life systems; it forces muscles to atrophy, weakens bones, impairs vision and lowers blood volume, amongst other things. According to a recent symposium on interstellar travel, these physiological changes mean that the creation of space-babies in zero-g is more or less impossible, effectively ruling out any multi-generational space journeys until science masters artificial gravity. Given that a trip to even our nearest star would take hundreds of years, this problem represents a significant hurdle.

At their last meeting, experts from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) these cosy love suits [http://www.space.com/13135-100-year-starship-symposium-darpa-nasa.html]). Sadly, the next stage is where things take a turn for the worse: The effects of microgravity on a developing foetus are thought to be severe, ranging from brittle bones to circulatory problems and underdeveloped internal organs. There's also the matter of bringing your little bundle of space-joy into the world (or, well, ship).

"Giving birth in zero gravity is going to be hell because gravity helps you [on Earth]," said Athena Andreadis, a biologist from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. "You rely on the weight of the baby."

"The distances to the stars are vast. Large starships will have to be self-sustainable. We don't have such technology yet," continued Andreadis. "We will have to grow up and do self-directed evolution, realizing that what comes out of the other end may not be human. If we stake our future among the stars, we must change for the journey and the destination."

All of this means that we're not going anywhere, perhaps not even Mars, until we master either artificial gravity or some seriously speedy travel methods. Although this news won't come as a surprise to anybody who's put serious thought into interstellar travel, it is humbling to be reminded of these things from time to time. Humans are perfectly adjusted for life on Earth; as Andreadis noted, we'll have to adapt to both the journey and the destination if we're ever to leave.



Source: LiveScience [http://www.livescience.com/16348-space-sex-interstellar-travel-challenges.html]






Permalink

 

[Jegsimmons]

Ok experts, you try it out. then we'll take your word as true.

Seriously...do scientist just make shit up just to piss off sci fi fans? cause i think they do.

remember when light speed couldnt be broken? yeah what then scientist!!! WHERES YOUR SCIENCE THEN!!!

 

[Akytalusia]

let's see, first thing's first...

f you, experts.

second. it's only impossible with our current understanding of physics. there's still shit to be discovered. why do you think they're pouring so much money into CERN? who knows, with enough time and delving, we may find things we haven't even considered.

 

[omicron1]

In space, no one can get a C-section.

All his other complaints may be perfectly valid, but science has had a method to circumvent the "giving birth through birth canal" concept for years and years.

 

[RatRace123]

I shall handle this with the grace and civility that I handle all things that crush my delusions.

*Sticks fingers in ears.*

La la la la I can't hear you, Experts. I'm not listening!

 

[Ghengis John]

What the experts know is constantly being proven wrong by other experts down the road. So I guess what I'm saying is, "we'll just see about that".

 

[Hevva]

In space, no one can get a C-section.

All his other complaints may be perfectly valid, but science has had a method to circumvent the "giving birth through birth canal" concept for years and years.

C-sections...in zero gravity? WHOA THERE, friend. I was going to get to sleep all peaceful and everything tonight too.

 

[setting_son]

Just bung the crew compartment in a huge centrifuge with the floor pointing outwards and the ceiling in the direction of the spindle. Problem solved.

(I don't care if there's a really good scientific reason for why that doesn't work, I want to spin people around in space)

 

[Sylocat]

Wow, inflammatory headline.

They didn't say it "makes interstellar travel impossible." They said it makes reproduction in zero-G impossible. Big difference.

And we already know how to generate artificial gravity in space, using the rotation-drum effect seen in 2001: A Space Odyssey.

And as predicted, most comments here are from people who only read the headline...

 

[InsaneFool]

Impossible or Improbable?

 

[GaltarDude1138]

In space, no one can get a C-section.

I can see it now...

"Nurse, float that scalpel towards me."
*Sthick*
"OW MY EYE!"

Okay, don't wanna see that anymore...geez. But really, artificial gravity shouldn't be impossible, either through manual means of rotation, or through another viable means. Like some kind of artificial magnetic field that we haven't exactly invented yet...

 

[Loop Stricken]

Isn't this the reason they had those spinning ship sections in all those old Sci-Fi films? Artificial gravity?

 

[hittite]

Ok experts, you try it out. then we'll take your word as true.

Seriously...do scientist just make shit up just to piss off sci fi fans? cause i think they do.

remember when light speed couldnt be broken? yeah what then scientist!!! WHERES YOUR SCIENCE THEN!!!

that is entirely different, most physics dealing with space and what exactly makes up space in general is nothing but theory still.

However, we are able, and have, tested the effects of microgravity on humans for several years now.

Most of what they say is true, BUT, interstellar travel isn't impossible. You could create an artificial gravity ship fairly easily by having it rotate.

The downside of course is that the habitats would have to be built on the edges of the rotation, cutting valuable space down dramatically.


Still though, even if we did make a spaceship that was able to produce artificial gravity, we would still have to develop the technology to make it self sustainable.


Besides, there are no spare part stores or gas stations in space.


yet, anyway.

Altenatively, you could have the ship accelerate at a steady 1G until halfway there, then decelerate at 1 G the rest of the way. This, of course, comes with its own problems (for one thing, accelerating at 1G for 50 years will build up a lot of velocity, meaning that you reeeeeeaaaaally don't want to hit anything. Even a micrometeorite impact at C-fractional velocities would tear any ship to shreds.) But it's a simple solution, nonetheless.

 

[Blue_vision]

I'll remind everyone that artificial gravity is basically a big spinning tube. The issue is creating a spaceship big and redundant enough to have those tubes able to simulate fairly regular gravity for the living quarters of the entire crew. Which is more of an engineering issue than anything.

 

[Mr Thin]

I didn't know zero gravity made it impossible, but I did always kind of assume that by the time we're capable of interstellar travel, we'd have artificial gravity all sorted out. It's always been kind of the same thing in my mind.

So are they saying that if we had artificial gravity right now, interstellar travel would be fine and dandy? I didn't know we'd reached that point yet, but I'm not exactly a scientist, so what do I know.

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

We do know how to make artificial gravity. Spin person fast enough and it creates a puesdo gravity. Sure, to make sure one's head isn't at 0 G's and the feet are at 12 you need to make a really, really, REALLY large wheel to spin, but it is physically POSSIBLE.

 

[Treblaine]

Artificial gravity is easy, you just need two space ships and a long high tension line:

attach the rope to what would be the "top" of each ship, fly apart just enough so the line is taught then fire boosters in 90 degrees from the line yet in opposite directions to each other so they both swing around the same point using each other as the counterweight. With a reasonably long line and moderate rotation, each can get 1G of gravity easily. The boosters don't even have to fire eternally, just enough to start the rotation.

 

[ThreeKneeNick]

Misread that title as possible and got excited. One time I'm not a glass half empty person... Anyway, if giving birth to healthy babies weren't a problem, raising them probably would be. A very isolated and cramped spaceship existence can't have positive effects on their personalities. And once you get to the destination, what about inbreeding? Would they ever be returning to earth? What would be the point of either outcome? Ah, I'm back to my glass half empty self again.

 

[the spud]

Why do smart people have to ruin everybody's fun? The dream will never die!