Discussion
#WritersCoffeeClub #Physics #Aliens #FTL #ScienceFiction
Bonus question from me to science fiction writers:
I have been watching various videos by renowned physicists detailing in very understandable terms why we haven't and *won't meet aliens, and why interstellar travel isn't possible. I'll link to a couple at the end. My question for you, and for me, is can we write science fiction that abides by the laws of physics?
@farbel #WritersCoffeeClub #Physics #Aliens #FTL #ScienceFiction
This shit absolutely infuriates me, because it proves these physicists are a goddamn detriment to science. Because they have no imagination at all.
NGC 7217 is ~50 light years or less, +- a lot. If they launched a probe toward us, accounting for movement in space, it could conceivably reach our solar system in ~100-150 years. That's only ~500,000km/h, and the Parker probe hit 690,000km/h.
@cstross @farbel it is and isn't. Remember, Parker achieved ~0.064% relative in a *heliocentric* at 6.9Mkm perihelion. In other words, a very very short distance.
When you're talking about pointing to another galaxy, that's roughly 2.365175e+14km of space (or greater) where you can run in constant thrust before you have to think about braking burn.
So it's very possible. But it's also the very expensive.
@cstross @farbel that's why I went right to NSTAR with HET alternative. Power and propellant's your limiting factor, as usual. But given sufficient power to stand on the gas and Whipple for debris, thrust is the limit. (Remember, not talking crewed. So "Go Fast And Maybe Die To A Rock" is an option.)
@farbel @cstross yep, hence, the cost. Remembering that we're not talking about manned craft or active radio comms. (That's a whole other problem.) Or truly massive distances necessarily. We don't currently have the physics to even think about 200+LY distances yet.
But also, we do. (Bear with me.) Because everyone's obsessed with 'in their lifetime.' That requires speed. Said speed is theoretically possible. But it's also *not necessary* if you can be very patient and accurate.
