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I don't understand anything about it, but I think I read that LIGO has been enhanced with a technique involving "squeezed light" which allows some bypassing of
by vba616 4y ago
I don't understand anything about it, but I think I read that LIGO has been enhanced with a technique involving "squeezed light" which allows some bypassing of heretofore assumed fundamental physical limits through quantum wizardry.
Something else I read about, that doesn't sound like it involves far out voodoo tech to me, that I wish I'd live long enough to see, is putting a probe out far enough and in the right position, to use the Sun's gravity as a telescope lens.
...and (maybe) actually get pictures of extrasolar planets.
I don't know if those pictures would be like Hubble's view of Pluto, or in principle could be much better.
If I could have one wish for something extraterrestrial, that is more achievable, it would be close up pictures of Haumea. Eris and others too, but Haumea most of all.
I care nothing at all for Mars colonies, but the most exciting thing about Starship for me is the hope that maybe combining it with in-orbit refueling could enable quicker travel to the outer solar system and loitering/orbiting instead of flying by at top speed.
- nkrisc 4y agoPretty good explanation of the technique and challenges involved: https://youtu.be/4d0EGIt1SPc https://youtu.be/4d0EGIt1SPc One figure that stands out, the probe would need to be about 550 AU from the sun. Voyager 1 is about 150 AU away from the sun right now, for comparison.
- HyperSane 4y agoThe Solar Gravitational Lens is very neat but with current propulsion technology it would take a very long time to get the satellites into position. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQFqDKRAROI&t=411s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQFqDKRAROI&t=411s
- skykooler 4y agoThen we'd better start as early as possible.
- govg 4y agoThere's a funny paradox-like situation that arises in space flight where because of the distances involved/ time taken, it might be better to wait some time for a faster method of flight to develop. Of course, it is up for debate whether there are many more ways of propulsion that are yet to be invented.