3 ms·

> the dipole drive can be used to accelerate a spacecraft at velocities greater than that of the solar wind [0] and > [the Dipole drive] therefore offers pote

> the dipole drive can be used to accelerate a spacecraft at velocities greater than that of the solar wind [0] and > [the Dipole drive] therefore offers potential as a means of achieving ultra-high velocities necessary for interstellar flight. Sorry, but I couldn't come up with anything else than: warp-drive!! (if it can deliver on that promise that is). I have long hoped/expected we would crack the challenge of propellant-less acceleration through space, not sure if this is it though. [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20666722 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20666722

Dylan16807 7y ago
Nothing that accelerates at a tiny fraction of a percent of 1g is within miles of a "warp drive", no matter how high the max speed is.
- taneq 7y ago
  The point of a warp drive is to bypass the speed of light limit by warping space. Acceleration is kind of irrelevant.
  - peter_d_sherman 7y ago
    Theoretically, in addition to the warp drive, you also need some kind of secondary propulsion, no matter how slow, to move the ship through the warp bubble/vortex/portal/curved space, etc. Later versions of warp will be able to move the bubble/vortex/portal of curved space itself -- around the ship and from front to back, thus obviating the need for motion relative to the warp field. Technology-wise think of the steps like this: 1) Figure out how to create a warp bubble 2) Figure out how to move it, relative to what's projecting it Without #2, secondary propulsion is required. #1 is the first technological achievement, #2 would follow upon that. Until #2 is achieved, secondary propulsion is required... #2 is a little bit wierd to do, because once you've changed your location in space, you've changed the location of what's projecting the warp field -- you need to include that in your warp field projection calculations for #2... and that's IF it could be done... In fact, the initial version of warp might look something like this: Ship A, stationary in space, projects the warp bubble, Ship B goes through it. Why? Because otherwise you've got all kinds of relative motion that would need to be compensated for... Of course, all of this is theoretical...
    - stareatgoats 7y ago
      > 1) Figure out how to create a warp bubble How hard can it be? My guess is "very" :-P . My bet is more along the lines of constant acceleration, which is not "warp drive" per se, but holds a better promise of interstellar and possibly even intergalactic travels.
    - taneq 7y ago
      Then again, if you can actually generate a field that warps spacetime, you can probably arrange for the spacetime inside the warp bubble to be curved such that it causes objects inside to accelerate.

Dylan16807 7y ago

Nothing that accelerates at a tiny fraction of a percent of 1g is within miles of a "warp drive", no matter how high the max speed is.

taneq 7y ago
The point of a warp drive is to bypass the speed of light limit by warping space. Acceleration is kind of irrelevant.
- peter_d_sherman 7y ago
  Theoretically, in addition to the warp drive, you also need some kind of secondary propulsion, no matter how slow, to move the ship through the warp bubble/vortex/portal/curved space, etc. Later versions of warp will be able to move the bubble/vortex/portal of curved space itself -- around the ship and from front to back, thus obviating the need for motion relative to the warp field. Technology-wise think of the steps like this: 1) Figure out how to create a warp bubble 2) Figure out how to move it, relative to what's projecting it Without #2, secondary propulsion is required. #1 is the first technological achievement, #2 would follow upon that. Until #2 is achieved, secondary propulsion is required... #2 is a little bit wierd to do, because once you've changed your location in space, you've changed the location of what's projecting the warp field -- you need to include that in your warp field projection calculations for #2... and that's IF it could be done... In fact, the initial version of warp might look something like this: Ship A, stationary in space, projects the warp bubble, Ship B goes through it. Why? Because otherwise you've got all kinds of relative motion that would need to be compensated for... Of course, all of this is theoretical...
  - stareatgoats 7y ago
    > 1) Figure out how to create a warp bubble How hard can it be? My guess is "very" :-P . My bet is more along the lines of constant acceleration, which is not "warp drive" per se, but holds a better promise of interstellar and possibly even intergalactic travels.
  - taneq 7y ago
    Then again, if you can actually generate a field that warps spacetime, you can probably arrange for the spacetime inside the warp bubble to be curved such that it causes objects inside to accelerate.