/sci/ - Science & Math

I support this. Every developed nation should have it's own Orion kill vehicle prepped for just this reason. Also because if we had one everyone else would want one too as they are potentially devastating weapons.

>>3981747
Earth as a whole would only need one at a time. As soon as earth is saved from an asteroid, we could build another to replace it. Every single country would not need one as they would not be used. Nuclear warheads on their own are also devastating weapons, so much so that they will never be used. Making more weapons for potential use on humans, which will never be used, is a waste of money.
People are starving.

>>3981752
>people are starving

Feed them to each other.

>>3981754
No! That is horrible.

>>3981756
>>>/x/

>>3981758
I do not see what the paranormal board has to do with cannibalism, other than the fact zombies are known for cannibalism.

>>3981736
And what if said asteroid turns out to be a rubble pile? Gravity tractor FTW!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_tractor

Of course even then, nuclear pulse propulsion might be way overkill, all that might be needed is an impact of a fast moving 1 ton spacecraft:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid-impact_avoidance#Kinetic_impact

>>3981756
It's the perfect solution. Eventually there's just one really big fat Ethiopian left, with an acquired craving for human flesh. We simply augment his body with cybernetic arms, legs and spine to support his weight then graft antiballistic ceramic armor to his body so that he's unstoppable. A few months after we unleash him upon India, China and Mexico, overpopulation will become a thing of the past.

>>3981779
It is a serious topic. You should not joke.

>>3981779
Now, now Mad, everyone knows you can solve the starvation problem and ocean acidification problem with large scale seaweed cultivation:

http://www.wageningenuniversity.nl/uk/newsagenda/archive/news/2010/Growing_seaweed_can_solve_acidifi
cation.htm

>>3981781
An armored cybernetic cannibal is as serious as it gets.

>>3981785
No, I want my cannibal cyborg! >:I

http://youtu.be/E3Lxx2VAYi8

Sounds like we could decommission old nuclear weapons and turn them into fuel for an Orion-like system.

>>3981756
>>3981754
>>3981758
>>3981762
>>3981779
>>3981781
>>3981785
>>3981788
>>3981790

thx to these guys OP, your thread just turn to shit

>>3981814

Another option for a quick way to deflect an asteroid would be to build a REALLY REALLY big potato cannon filled up with hydrogen gas and shoot spacecraft at it, until said asteroid isn't on a collision course anymore.

Why send one spacecraft when you can send a bunch!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_gun

>>3981814
Gonna need source on that.

I think the main issue overall is our ability to construct and launch spacecraft from high-orbit, thus mostly eliminating the threat of radioactive contamination to our planet. Furthermore, how much pussy would you pull saying, "I work in the inter-planetary shipyard in high-earth orbit?"

Fuck I wish I could have been an asteroid miner.

>>3982760
>Fuck I wish I could have been an asteroid miner.
Do I need to post the daily wall of links stating you will have the opportunity?

>>3982774
Please do.

>>3982880
The technology:
http://techland.time.com/2011/04/06/spacexs-falcon-heavy-most-powerful-private-rocket-ever/
http://www.universetoday.com/73536/nasa-considering-rail-gun-launch-system-to-the-stars/
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article4799369.ece
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43451526/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/nasa-selects-new-heavy-lift-r
ocket-say-sources/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/05/24/skylon_esa_report/

The will:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8bIQLiKi3g
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/02/lord-british-wants-to-take-you-to-space-and-hes-closer-th
an-you-think.ars/3
http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2011/04/26/elon-musk-we-can-put-a-man-on-mars-in-10-years/
http://www.gamefront.com/john-carmack-helps-make-space-travel-more-affordable/
http://www.virgingalactic.com/

>>3982888
The time (and one of the main kicks in the ass to get it started):
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-rejuvenated-stem-cells-coaxed-centenarian.html
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/sci-tech/drugs-may-let-us-live-to-150-20111016-1lrm5.html
http://www.hplusmagazine.com/articles/forever-young/manhattan-beach-project-end-aging-2029
http://www.ted.com/themes/might_you_live_a_great_deal_longer.html
http://nextbigfuture.com/2011/07/sierra-sciences-working-towards.html
http://www.sens.org/sens-research/research-themes
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3329065877451441972#
http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101128/full/news.2010.635.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/nov/28/scientists-reverse-ageing-mice-humans
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-06-biologists-yeast-cells-reverse-aging.html
http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-06-dna-reverse-premature-aging.html

The economic benefits:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid_mining
>At 1997 prices, a relatively small metallic asteroid with a diameter of 1 mile contains more than $20 trillion US dollars worth of industrial and precious metals.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_Earth_Objects#Near-Earth_asteroids
>As of May 2010, 7,075 near-Earth asteroids are known,[14] ranging in size up to ~32 kilometers (1036 Ganymed).[16] The number of near-Earth asteroids over one kilometer in diameter is estimated to be 500 - 1,000.

>>3982888

>>3982892
I seem to have loads of your OC Colonel Coffee.

>>3982944

Great minds like the same OC.

>>3982957
You have GOT to pirate yourself some Photoshop.

ITT: Tripfag circlejerk

>>3982961

I have photoshop but hardly ever use it. This is all Inkscape that looks like it was made in paint.

>>3982977
Haha, alright.

>>3982967
True this. CCM, MSN?

>>3982977
> inkscape
> not using gimp or paint.net

>>3982985

Yes.

>>3982995
But Inkscape allows you to specify position and size of the objects with numbers. It's the best choice after drawing with latex and pstricks.

>>3982997

I'm there.

>>3982999
It's not my fault you can't script the gimp.

What do you guys speculate the qualifications, physical and academic, would be to work in space, in an era where perhaps 6 masters degrees in hard science is an impractical bar to set for a basic labourer working in space?

in b4 robots do erryting

>>3983004
>doesn't prioritize vector graphics

>>3983033
High school physics is a must.
Probably two years of uni physics too.
Must have passed 1 year pilot training for standardized spaceplanes (Skylon, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Tharsis) and powered self-propelled exoskeletons for outer hull maintenance where robots would be impractical.
Must have completed the two-year course for maintaining physical fitness in lower gravity, as well as any procedures and rules that must be observed to prevent some new asshole who smuggled a weed brownie onboard from opening an airlock before closing the other airlock door and so on.
Also, they cannot smoke outside of designated smoking rooms.

The Orion Kinetic Kill Vehicle (OKKV) is overkill, not to pun. The vehicle would need too much maintenance, and there would be too few.

I propose instead that if any such investment be made, to instead create electromagnet cannons at the 4 involved L points. The one beyond the moon (L2) can be ignored.

At each L point, a long series of solar-powered rings would form the bulk of the linear accelerator. The end series of rings would be more massive in order to achieve aiming. However, each cannon would be pointed at a general sector of sky, since the aiming width of each one isn't that large.

Also, each cannon should be designed to be bi-directional. So the polarity could be reversed by command, and each end would be more massive from the supply of slugs (several tons of asteroidal nickel-iron for maximum mass absorption) and the aiming rings.

It's conceivable that such a system would require minimal maintenance (depending how it stores power) and be largely remote-controlled. Response times could be as little as 10 minutes, but several hours would be more likely. The devices would be controlled from an early-warning center based in an existing site like Falcon AFB (or whatever it's called today).

>>3983074
I'd imagine e-cigarettes could/would become VERY popular in space.

Since this is largely rational people and if the government is no longer involved, I'd imagine weed would become VERY popular as a form of recreation. Whereas alcohol has a bad history of violence and bad decision making associated with it, weed is a relatively benign way of letting a cramped crew bond and blow off steam without too much potential harm.

Remember that space is a dangerous place, but humans are humans and they'll want some form of recreation. The less potential danger involved in that recreation the better.

They likely won't smoke weed for fire safety concerns and ash clogging air filters. My money's on some kind of electronic cigarette with a different chemical composition in the cartridge/atomizer.

>>3983194
oh yeah, for the interested parties....

http://www.projectrho.com/rocket/realdesigns.php#id--Project_Orion_Battleship

A design like that would need some tweaking and a few additions of modern technology, but the basic design is sound.

What do you think the wages of a mining crew would look like? I think we could see another golden age of the middle class if crews were to require the education that we're talking about earlier.

>>3981736
If it succeeds then it's not a late launch, now is it?

>>3983555
Finally, I meet someone on /sci/ who is familiar with reason.

>>3981752
>People are starving.
Firstly we produce enough food to feed 11 billion people each year, and though some is spoiled just in the natural course of affairs more spoils because we cannot find a buyer fast enough. If you have no ability to produce something you cannot trade it for food, and as suck starve.

Secondly, do you hear that? I think that is the sound of no one caring.

Nuclear Space Battleships FTW!

>>3983210
>Casaba Howitzer

Orion or Timberwind style nuclear launchers will probably never happen from Earth. Unfueled reactors and RTGs are as nuclear as the public will allow.

If you want to talk about asteroid deflection the best option is the gravity tractor or albedo modification if time allows. If it's short notice, nuke it or ride it out.

>>3983812
>nuke it or ride it out

>>3983194
Everyone will use vaporizers in space!

It would have to be assembled in orbit, because i wouldn't want a nuclear rocket launching in my backyard. Furthermore you would have trouble slowing down. Even then explosions/radiation are an issue. not to mention the amount of enriched uranium you would need, and the potential for weaponisation.