New Project Plans To Send A Spacecraft To Alpha Centauri In 20 Years

Reece · 04-12-16, 06:34 PM

This wont effect me in any way!

04-12-16, 06:39 PM

I've been playing too much Elite: Dangerous - my first thought was 'Alpha Centauri? That won't take long...'

Eichhörnchen · 04-13-16, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyJWest

I've been playing too much Elite: Dangerous - my first thought was 'Alpha Centauri? That won't take long...'

They said it'll only be a very small spaceship, so who's going to steer it?

"Start the car..."

Diopos · 04-13-16, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eichhörnchen

They said it'll only be a very small spaceship, so who's going to steer it?
...

... Hope???

.

Betonov · 04-13-16, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eichhörnchen

They said it'll only be a very small spaceship, so who's going to steer it?

Newton

Commander Wallace · 04-13-16, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eichhörnchen

They said it'll only be a very small spaceship, so who's going to steer it?

"Start the car..."

The Robinson family or robot on the new, Jupiter 2.

Jimbuna · 04-13-16, 08:01 AM

To infinity and beyond.

Rockin Robbins · 04-13-16, 08:41 AM

I think a simple calculation will show that if you could get the craft to Alpha Centauri you would never be able to learn that it arrived. You'll never generate the power for a receivable signal from a small circuit board. If you could generate 1 watt that would be amazing. However our most dense storage devices, Lithium based batteries are good for 3 years before they quickly degrade to uselessness. If you build a craft so small you would only have enough space for about a 300mAh battery. At a 10C discharge, that's 3 amps for 6 minutes then kaput. And that's if it would retain 100% of its capacity, which it wouldn't.

I may be optimistic. The camera might take up the space that I figured for the battery. I bet this thing would have a 30% chance of detection from the moon.

mapuc · 04-13-16, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

I think a simple calculation will show that if you could get the craft to Alpha Centauri you would never be able to learn that it arrived. You'll never generate the power for a receivable signal from a small circuit board. If you could generate 1 watt that would be amazing. However our most dense storage devices, Lithium based batteries are good for 3 years before they quickly degrade to uselessness. If you build a craft so small you would only have enough space for about a 300mAh battery. At a 10C discharge, that's 3 amps for 6 minutes then kaput. And that's if it would retain 100% of its capacity, which it wouldn't.

I may be optimistic. The camera might take up the space that I figured for the battery. I bet this thing would have a 30% chance of detection from the moon.

I guess most of you know the story behind the struggle NASA had to send the first man to the Moon and the bonus they got from the development.

I could very well see some new "bonus" in future space travel and in our daily life-such as new kind of battery, cameras a.s.o

Markus

Buddahaid · 04-13-16, 08:20 PM

David Brin's 2012 book Existance uses these laser propelled solar sails in an interesting slant. Not only do they get a big push from the laser on the way out, but they use the sail as a brake when approaching a star system.

The power available to transmit images could be supplied by the sail if it also worked as a collector and twenty years in electronics development will bring some amazing changes.

I'm OK with it and I'm happy they're choosing a spacecraft. Watercraft just don't cut it.

Sailor Steve · 04-12-16, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reece

This wont effect me in any way!

Probably won't affect me either, but if I am around when they launch it I'll spend ever single one of my remaining days asking "Are we there yet?"

04-12-16, 06:34 PM	#1
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,707 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	This wont effect me in any way! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

04-13-16, 08:01 AM	#7
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,525 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	To infinity and beyond. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

04-13-16, 08:41 AM	#8
Rockin Robbins Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: DeLand, FL Posts: 8,900 Downloads: 135 Uploads: 52	I think a simple calculation will show that if you could get the craft to Alpha Centauri you would never be able to learn that it arrived. You'll never generate the power for a receivable signal from a small circuit board. If you could generate 1 watt that would be amazing. However our most dense storage devices, Lithium based batteries are good for 3 years before they quickly degrade to uselessness. If you build a craft so small you would only have enough space for about a 300mAh battery. At a 10C discharge, that's 3 amps for 6 minutes then kaput. And that's if it would retain 100% of its capacity, which it wouldn't. I may be optimistic. The camera might take up the space that I figured for the battery. I bet this thing would have a 30% chance of detection from the moon. __________________ Sub Skipper's Bag of Tricks, Slightly Subnuclear Mk 14 & Cutie, Slightly Subnuclear Deck Gun, EZPlot 2.0, TMOPlot, TMOKeys, SH4CMS Last edited by Rockin Robbins; 04-13-16 at 03:25 PM.

04-13-16, 08:20 PM	#10
Buddahaid Shark above Space Chicken Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,319 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	David Brin's 2012 book Existance uses these laser propelled solar sails in an interesting slant. Not only do they get a big push from the laser on the way out, but they use the sail as a brake when approaching a star system. The power available to transmit images could be supplied by the sail if it also worked as a collector and twenty years in electronics development will bring some amazing changes. I'm OK with it and I'm happy they're choosing a spacecraft. Watercraft just don't cut it. __________________ "However vast the darkness, we must provide our own light." Stanley Kubrick "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming." David Bowie

04-12-16, 06:39 PM	#2
AndyJWest Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	I've been playing too much Elite: Dangerous - my first thought was 'Alpha Centauri? That won't take long...'