Looks interesting:

By Ross Andersen

Feb 23 2012, 1:56 PM ET 3

Andreas Tziolas is drafting a blueprint for a mission to a nearby star. Here, he discusses how we'll get there -- and why we try.

We humans have known for a very long time that going to the stars will be difficult, if not impossible. The motto of NASA, Per Aspera Ad Astra, a latin phrase meaning "through hardship to the stars," comes down to us all the way from Seneca the Younger, a contemporary of Nero. Even today, when our metaphors of exertion and ambition are many --"swing for the fences," "go for gold" -- when we strain to capture the difficulty of a task, or the enormity of an achievement, "reach for the stars" is the first and most natural phrase that comes to mind. Our hierarchy of the ultimate human accomplishments is in this sense remarkably stable at the top.

And with good reason, because interstellar travel is in fact very difficult. With today's best propulsion technology, chemical rockets, it would take between 50 and a 100 millennia to reach Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to the Sun. The ideas we have about how to expedite such a journey are just that: ideas. They belong to the realm of speculation. Nonetheless, they are beginning to take on an empirical glow. To be sure, the bundle of technologies that could conceivably send a spacecraft to another star won't be here within the decade, or even within several, but neither are those technologies mere magical realism -- indeed, planning for their development has begun in earnest.

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/02/project-icarus-laying-the-plans-for-interstellar-travel/253335/#.T0aT1zYZoho.facebook

I don't think that we'll achieve interstellar travel with conventional technology.

Once mankind learns to generate/control wormholes, we can talk.

BTW - anyone else think that there is more to the Hadron collider project than just "learning"?

PurpleJedi said:

I don't think that we'll achieve interstellar travel with conventional technology.

Once mankind learns to generate/control wormholes, we can talk.

BTW - anyone else think that there is more to the Hadron collider project than just "learning"?

We won't .........but we will with Jump Room Technology.

Graycap23 said:

PurpleJedi said:

I don't think that we'll achieve interstellar travel with conventional technology.

Once mankind learns to generate/control wormholes, we can talk.

BTW - anyone else think that there is more to the Hadron collider project than just "learning"?

We won't .........but we will with Jump Room Technology.

Why are you so certain???

30 years ago, no one would dream that we'd have TV's in our pockets.

It all starts with an idea. Personally, I'd just like to think priority would be the ability to move about our own solar system, there are still basic human issues that need to be dealt with when thinking about transporting people into space. Something as simple as having drinking water or losing too much bone density from being out in space too long so one couldn't return to Earth gravity, our bodies are quite fragile and needy in reality.

morningsong said:

It all starts with an idea. Personally, I'd just like to think priority would be the ability to move about our own solar system, there are still basic human issues that need to be dealt with when thinking about transporting people into space. Something as simple as having drinking water or losing too much bone density from being out in space too long so one couldn't return to Earth gravity, our bodies are quite fragile and needy in reality.

Actually it starts with reverse engineering certain artifacts.

Graycap23 said:

morningsong said:

It all starts with an idea. Personally, I'd just like to think priority would be the ability to move about our own solar system, there are still basic human issues that need to be dealt with when thinking about transporting people into space. Something as simple as having drinking water or losing too much bone density from being out in space too long so one couldn't return to Earth gravity, our bodies are quite fragile and needy in reality.

Actually it starts with reverse engineering certain artifacts.

Yeah, it's not a concept I believe in. There are too many varibles those concepts don't take into consideration. Another Earthlike planet would be so far away that the engineering to travel that way would require a different type of math, too many theroies would have already been validated or put to rest by now.

I have faith in Zefram!!

morningsong said:

Graycap23 said:

Actually it starts with reverse engineering certain artifacts.

Yeah, it's not a concept I believe in. There are too many varibles those concepts don't take into consideration. Another Earthlike planet would be so far away that the engineering to travel that way would require a different type of math, too many theroies would have already been validated or put to rest by now.

I would like to still believe that - so long as we don't eradicate ourselves - humans will eventually learn the secrets to the universe to allow us to travel billions of lightyears away.

Right now, I think the most valid option are wormholes. The Hadron collider is supposed to allow scientists a brief glimpse into the big bang by colliding two atoms. Let's say that eventually they create a similar contraption where they can collide just the right atoms to create a wormhole and keep that portal open. Then the next step would be to manipulate the wormhole to open up where we want to travel to...and WALLAH-! We have our stargate.

PurpleJedi said:

morningsong said:

Yeah, it's not a concept I believe in. There are too many varibles those concepts don't take into consideration. Another Earthlike planet would be so far away that the engineering to travel that way would require a different type of math, too many theroies would have already been validated or put to rest by now.

I would like to still believe that - so long as we don't eradicate ourselves - humans will eventually learn the secrets to the universe to allow us to travel billions of lightyears away.

Right now, I think the most valid option are wormholes. The Hadron collider is supposed to allow scientists a brief glimpse into the big bang by colliding two atoms. Let's say that eventually they create a similar contraption where they can collide just the right atoms to create a wormhole and keep that portal open. Then the next step would be to manipulate the wormhole to open up where we want to travel to...and WALLAH-! We have our stargate.

Where's the spice melange when you need it?

I had something VERY clever to say in response to this thread until I read everyone else's replies I'm sure it had something to do with the disappointing alien Will Smith decked in Independence Day. Like, you have to be really icky with long fingers and goo hanging off you to be smart enough to build awesome biomechanical spaceships.

No, that wasn't at ALL what I was intending to write about

imo humans should invest in this technology. our planet earth goes through periods of ice ages and thaws, which we cannot stop and cannot survive. we will, someday, need an alternate residence....

XxAxX said:

imo humans should invest in this technology. our planet earth goes through periods of ice ages and thaws, which we cannot stop and cannot survive. we will, someday, need an alternate residence....

That is what worries the rest of universe.

Earth is known as the "prison" planet.

Graycap23 said:

XxAxX said:

imo humans should invest in this technology. our planet earth goes through periods of ice ages and thaws, which we cannot stop and cannot survive. we will, someday, need an alternate residence....

That is what worries the rest of universe.

Earth is known as the "prison" planet.

prison for .. ???? us???

Deadcake said:

I had something VERY clever to say in response to this thread until I read everyone else's replies I'm sure it had something to do with the disappointing alien Will Smith decked in Independence Day. Like, you have to be really icky with long fingers and goo hanging off you to be smart enough to build awesome biomechanical spaceships.

No, that wasn't at ALL what I was intending to write about

You know what, I'm sooo with you on that. I always wonder why aliens seem to always have to look like that.

XxAxX said:

Graycap23 said:

That is what worries the rest of universe.

Earth is known as the "prison" planet.

prison for .. ???? us???

Yes.

U are born here, live here, and die here without ever even have an option 2 visit other places.

By design.

Graycap23 said:

XxAxX said:

prison for .. ???? us???

Yes.

U are born here, live here, and die here without ever even have an option 2 visit other places.

By design.

it's pretty nice here.

XxAxX said:

Graycap23 said:

Yes.

U are born here, live here, and die here without ever even have an option 2 visit other places.

By design.

it's pretty nice here.

Prison none the less.

Imagine what u might see......around the Universe if given the chance.

PurpleJedi said:

morningsong said:

Yeah, it's not a concept I believe in. There are too many varibles those concepts don't take into consideration. Another Earthlike planet would be so far away that the engineering to travel that way would require a different type of math, too many theroies would have already been validated or put to rest by now.

I would like to still believe that - so long as we don't eradicate ourselves - humans will eventually learn the secrets to the universe to allow us to travel billions of lightyears away.

Right now, I think the most valid option are wormholes. The Hadron collider is supposed to allow scientists a brief glimpse into the big bang by colliding two atoms. Let's say that eventually they create a similar contraption where they can collide just the right atoms to create a wormhole and keep that portal open. Then the next step would be to manipulate the wormhole to open up where we want to travel to...and WALLAH-! We have our stargate.

Oh, I believe it's one of our destinys as a species so I'm all for it. It's just that things that may be easy (relatively speaking) for machines to do doesn't mean that one just puts a person in it and all is ready to go. We are still designed for living on this planet so there's a lot of compensating to do, and tough choices have to be made. I guess all I'm saying there's a difference in writing something on a piece of paper and making the human body actually do something different.

StonedImmaculate said:

PurpleJedi said:

I would like to still believe that - so long as we don't eradicate ourselves - humans will eventually learn the secrets to the universe to allow us to travel billions of lightyears away.

Right now, I think the most valid option are wormholes. The Hadron collider is supposed to allow scientists a brief glimpse into the big bang by colliding two atoms. Let's say that eventually they create a similar contraption where they can collide just the right atoms to create a wormhole and keep that portal open. Then the next step would be to manipulate the wormhole to open up where we want to travel to...and WALLAH-! We have our stargate.

Where's the spice melange when you need it?

Perhaps there's an ulterior motive for the West wanting to grab chunks of the sandy & dry Middle East...?

morningsong said:

PurpleJedi said:

I would like to still believe that - so long as we don't eradicate ourselves - humans will eventually learn the secrets to the universe to allow us to travel billions of lightyears away.

Right now, I think the most valid option are wormholes. The Hadron collider is supposed to allow scientists a brief glimpse into the big bang by colliding two atoms. Let's say that eventually they create a similar contraption where they can collide just the right atoms to create a wormhole and keep that portal open. Then the next step would be to manipulate the wormhole to open up where we want to travel to...and WALLAH-! We have our stargate.

Oh, I believe it's one of our destinys as a species so I'm all for it. It's just that things that may be easy (relatively speaking) for machines to do doesn't mean that one just puts a person in it and all is ready to go. We are still designed for living on this planet so there's a lot of compensating to do, and tough choices have to be made. I guess all I'm saying there's a difference in writing something on a piece of paper and making the human body actually do something different.

OK...so you "do" believe in it then?

I agree...there are so many obstacles in our path to achieving this, that by the time it's figured out, we'll be different as a species probably.

Just my opinion.

PurpleJedi said:

morningsong said:

Oh, I believe it's one of our destinys as a species so I'm all for it. It's just that things that may be easy (relatively speaking) for machines to do doesn't mean that one just puts a person in it and all is ready to go. We are still designed for living on this planet so there's a lot of compensating to do, and tough choices have to be made. I guess all I'm saying there's a difference in writing something on a piece of paper and making the human body actually do something different.

OK...so you "do" believe in it then?

I agree...there are so many obstacles in our path to achieving this, that by the time it's figured out, we'll be different as a species probably.

Just my opinion.

That all this exist right now and people are zipping back and forth all over the galaxy? No. That there are people working towards it? Yes, and I'm all for it despite the obstacles. I'm thinking of the idea that keeps being brought up about sending people on a one way trip to Mars, there's a lot of factors to consider, someone brought up can someone conceive in that kind of weightlessness, let alone the psychological effects of say something as simple as never seeing the Moon again, neither trees, birds or dogs. We'd change some kind of way.

morningsong said:

PurpleJedi said:

OK...so you "do" believe in it then?

I agree...there are so many obstacles in our path to achieving this, that by the time it's figured out, we'll be different as a species probably.

Just my opinion.

That all this exist right now and people are zipping back and forth all over the galaxy? No. That there are people working towards it? Yes, and I'm all for it despite the obstacles. I'm thinking of the idea that keeps being brought up about sending people on a one way trip to Mars, there's a lot of factors to consider, someone brought up can someone conceive in that kind of weightlessness, let alone the psychological effects of say something as simple as never seeing the Moon again, neither trees, birds or dogs. We'd change some kind of way.

Ahh...got you now.

NO, I don't believe humans are doing this now, but who's to say if other beings ARE?

Yes, humans do need to "evolve" towards this goal. Spending months, years, or a lifetime aboard a ship in space requires adjustments to what we are.

JUST MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION...but is it possible that we're already heading this direction? Think of the type of person that would be required to live a life in the lonely vastness of interstellar space. That person would almost have to be devoid of the need for companionship and be able to focus on the task at hand without distraction. Is it a sign of things to some when we look at the explosion in cases of Autism and Aspbergers' syndrome? Would someone with that type of "personality" be best suited for what we need as our interstellar pilots?

Just rambling perhaps...

morningsong said:

morningsong said:

Deadcake said:

I had something VERY clever to say in response to this thread until I read everyone else's replies I'm sure it had something to do with the disappointing alien Will Smith decked in Independence Day. Like, you have to be really icky with long fingers and goo hanging off you to be smart enough to build awesome biomechanical spaceships.

No, that wasn't at ALL what I was intending to write about

You know what, I'm sooo with you on that. I always wonder why aliens seem to always have to look like that.

Sometimes they are sexy green women!

It just depends on how virginal the target audience is

PurpleJedi said:

morningsong said:

That all this exist right now and people are zipping back and forth all over the galaxy? No. That there are people working towards it? Yes, and I'm all for it despite the obstacles. I'm thinking of the idea that keeps being brought up about sending people on a one way trip to Mars, there's a lot of factors to consider, someone brought up can someone conceive in that kind of weightlessness, let alone the psychological effects of say something as simple as never seeing the Moon again, neither trees, birds or dogs. We'd change some kind of way.

Ahh...got you now.

NO, I don't believe humans are doing this now, but who's to say if other beings ARE?

Yes, humans do need to "evolve" towards this goal. Spending months, years, or a lifetime aboard a ship in space requires adjustments to what we are.

JUST MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION...but is it possible that we're already heading this direction? Think of the type of person that would be required to live a life in the lonely vastness of interstellar space. That person would almost have to be devoid of the need for companionship and be able to focus on the task at hand without distraction. Is it a sign of things to some when we look at the explosion in cases of Autism and Aspbergers' syndrome? Would someone with that type of "personality" be best suited for what we need as our interstellar pilots?

Just rambling perhaps...

I don't know what kind of personality type would work the best, even though astronauts do seem to be quite personable individuals, like firemen, maybe it's just variations of the type A personalities best suited, idk. Yet, I couldn't imagine not going completely nuts after while, even though they'd have some contact (thinking only of Mars mission) there are just so many things we take for granted without thinking about how it affects who we are as individuals until I don't know how someone could account for all the variables. But you may be right there may be some even dormant or even 'bothersome' genetic dispositions already in place for such things. One of my favorite science fiction writers even hinted at cancer being a unguided dispostion for regeneration, granted it is a fictional but idea it was an interesting thought.

I would just like to note that we are all already on a ship in space, in a matter of speaking.

NDRU said:

morningsong said:

You know what, I'm sooo with you on that. I always wonder why aliens seem to always have to look like that.

Sometimes they are sexy green women!

There would have to be cause even James T. (R.) Kirk has limits.