Microgravity Makes Interstellar Travel Impossible, Say Experts

[Tilted_Logic]

What an interesting article. I don't think I've really pondered the idea of procreation in space, but the points made are definitely a huge hurdle in the quest to reach the stars.

Were we to find some way to either produce artificial gravity or cope with the lack-thereof, I've always wondered what it would be like to go on a journey that would take generations. I'm aware that children raised on a ship would know nothing of earth, and would therefore probably not have any qualms with living on a ship. But still... I mean, to go on such a journey means you are resigning your offspring to a preconceived goal that you had during your lifetime. What if they don't share your desires? What if they want to see Earth? How would you cope with such a situation? (If anyone knows of any science fiction novels that focus/cover this topic I would be highly interested in recommendations).

Oh, and as interesting as the article was, the part that truly got my attention was the name Athena Andreadis. I mean, how awesome is that? That's a name that's just screaming to have a spaceship named after it.

"Now boarding the Andreadis".

Hell. Yes.

 

[CortexReaver]

So, we have to become posthumans to travel across the stars? Great, this should force NASA and DoD to fund more research on the topics like advanced human-like AGI, molecular nanotechnology, bionics, biotech and so.

 

[CortexReaver]

More excuses as to why we cant go full out into space colonization mode. Really wish we could get started in my lifetime but it looks grim.

There is hope, if Singularity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity) will turn out to be real.

 

[DracoSuave]

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.

This provides another problem. As an accelerating or decelerating object, the spaceship is not concidered a neutral referance point regarding relativistic physics. Meaning that it will be increasing in kinetic energy from its own standpoint.

Meaning, that the ship and everything on that ship, will be steadily increasing mass.

This means that the amount of work the ship requires to maintain acceleration at the mid point of its voyage will be considerably greater than what it requires at the end points of its voyage. It isn't a line, but actually a quadratic curve, with the apex in the center.

The irony with this is that you'd require even more fuel, which in turn, would increase the mass at apex even more.