Rare Earth; how rare? (Introduction)

by xeno6696 , Sonoran Desert, Sunday, December 11, 2011, 18:32 (4523 days ago) @ David Turell

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16068809

Another discussion of how special Earth is.

Until we've explored a few solar systems... we have NO idea on how special our planet is...

Resident skeptic, how do you propose that? How will we get to solar systems with proper planets in the goldylocks zone? When the solar systems we are finding are many light-years away. Send probes at light speed?

First-generation ION drives can currently move objects 10x faster than with chemical propulsion. They just accelerate very slowly. To put that in perspective, the space shuttle would fly at the speed of 27870 km/h (17000mi/h). Increasing that by an order of magnitude, the same mass would reach a speed of 278700km/h.

However... in space, you don't have an atmosphere to push against, so ion drives make more sense: if fueled by a nuclear reactor similar to what powers our naval ships, we could generate a sustained acceleration of 3.6km/s for 13 years. We likely won't reach light speed with that--but near speed of light has already been theorized. (Limited by the mass of the ship, of course.) If you do the math, a small satellite could travel to Alpha Centauri in 6-7yrs.

FTL travel?
NASA doesn't find it impossible. Yet.

But for me, a more personal answer is this: I don't think in terms of my own lifetime, David. An answer now based on obvious ignorance is worth nothing. But preparing the way for the future, so that the question(s) can conceivably be answered? THAT is the true work of a philosopher. THAT is Nietzsche's builder, the ubermensch incarnate.

--
\"Why is it, Master, that ascetics fight with ascetics?\"

\"It is, brahmin, because of attachment to views, adherence to views, fixation on views, addiction to views, obsession with views, holding firmly to views that ascetics fight with ascetics.\"