When I look up at the sky on a clear night, a zillion stars twinkle in the black sky. I can't help but to imagine all the stars with all the planets that may have life similar to our own here on Earth. We as humans can not be that arrogant to think we are alone, or unique. Unique? Blaaa! There's nothing unique about us. We are but a speck, nothing more than a tiny dot in the center of the milky way galaxy which is itself a mere mention among millions.
The nearest star to our solar system is Proxima Centauri 4.2 light years away. Thanks to the old TV show, Lost in Space, the Centauri system, Alpha Centauri in particular, became a household name. Times have changed since then, but the reality of reaching that system is still no where near our future.
But this is my world, and I like to pretend. If a ship travels to Proxima Centauri at a speed of 10% light speed, it should take about 40 years to get there. Probably more, giving the fact that the ship must slow down considerably if it were going to make a safe landing. Forty years is a long time. The average person will probably not make the trip. Because of the education and training, most astronauts do not fly until they are well into their 40s. Perhaps we could put the occupants of the ship in some kind of stasis.
And then the problem of fuel arrises. Hmm.
When writing science fiction, two things are clear. Number one, the story is not true. Number two, the science must be real, or extrapolated from current hypothesis or data that makes it plausible in the future.
I would like to hear your thoughts and ideas on space travel. How would you like to tour the universe in the future?
My speculation is the colonization of remote worlds will involve a multi-generational commitment on the part of the colonists. I can foresee generations being born, living out their lives, and dying while en route.
ReplyDeleteOf course, this problem will be solved in 2063 when Zefram Cochrane invents warp drive.
Until/unless we can effectively deal with interstellar radiation, it's going to be tricky. We don't want our people fried.
ReplyDeletegood point about the radiation.
ReplyDeleteWhat if there were an infinite number of times zones you had to cross, so as you approached the star, you went backward in time and ended up there years ago...even before you were born?? Now--to solve the problem of aging...
ReplyDeleteI would love to think we could 'Transport' our bodies through time and space. What worries me is if we take all that is bad with us to these new places.
ReplyDelete