3 ms·

There are generally speaking, two interpretations in scifi. I don't really understand the physics, so apologies if I get it wrong. 1. Better known as the "Alcu

There are generally speaking, two interpretations in scifi. I don't really understand the physics, so apologies if I get it wrong. 1. Better known as the "Alcubierre Drive", Compress space infront of you and expand the space behind. Essentially inching forward like the inch worm. (If we presume that visually, the inch worm stays in the hunched position and slides forward because our eyes cannot see it's movement) Doing this smoothly in theory lets you accelerate and decelerate infinitely. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive 2. Warp space infront of you to create gravity, and pull you forward. Essentially, you make a pot hole in space time, and "fall" into it. This is basically the same Alcubierre Drive, but without the expansion at the rear. 2.1: One version holds that pothole at a specified distance infront of the ship. 2.2: The other version creates the pothole, then removes it before you reach it.

geoffmunn 3y ago
I've often wondered about option 2, but wouldn't that be very risky if you were near something/someone and you created a large gravitational field? Also, if this was common and you had lots of ships warping the gravity field then would that not be some kind of space pollution? I know space is big and all that, but this seems like an irresponsible option.
- Prickle 3y ago
  Yes actually, it would be. It would also depend on whether you have fine control over the size of the spacetime pothole. It is also possible that the larger nearby gravity well would pull on the pothole. I like to think that concepts such as "you must be at the edge of the solar system to initiate faster than light travel" or "cannot initiate faster than light within the gravity well of planet" originate here. I have nothing to backup that theory of course. As for space pollution, I never really thought of that. But considering some of our observation tools observe 'gravitational waves'? I could imagine another "starlink and light pollution is getting in the way of space observation" situation.

geoffmunn 3y ago

I've often wondered about option 2, but wouldn't that be very risky if you were near something/someone and you created a large gravitational field? Also, if this was common and you had lots of ships warping the gravity field then would that not be some kind of space pollution? I know space is big and all that, but this seems like an irresponsible option.

Prickle 3y ago
Yes actually, it would be. It would also depend on whether you have fine control over the size of the spacetime pothole. It is also possible that the larger nearby gravity well would pull on the pothole. I like to think that concepts such as "you must be at the edge of the solar system to initiate faster than light travel" or "cannot initiate faster than light within the gravity well of planet" originate here. I have nothing to backup that theory of course. As for space pollution, I never really thought of that. But considering some of our observation tools observe 'gravitational waves'? I could imagine another "starlink and light pollution is getting in the way of space observation" situation.