What Method Will We Use for Real Space Travel

[La Patience]

In different sci fi shows there is an array of methods of interstellar travel but which one do you think is the most plausible?

I prefer to think of the whole Space carrier design as I feel that energy based weapons are still a long way off and that constructing large vessels only is leaving a weakness againts whatever may be out there. I like the idea of fighters in space as it should be do-able via the same method we come up with for larger vessels to make them space worthy.

Jump gates or FTL jumps are a little to hit and miss in plausability term (my oppinion) but then again I guess so is warp so I am kinda stumped as to which was would really work. Hyperspace is just as un-plausible in my oppinion.

Well any who this thread is for yall to have your say on what you believe will be the future of interstellat travel and its various methods.

 

[EAS_Intrepid]

I prefer to think of the whole Space carrier design as I feel that energy based weapons are still a long way off and that constructing large vessels only is leaving a weakness againts whatever may be out there. I like the idea of fighters in space as it should be do-able via the same method we come up with for larger vessels to make them space worthy.

Energy Weapons:
Such weapons are no way "a long way off". The Israeli Military uses a laser system that is meant to shoot down incoming unguided missiles. The system already works, yet it is not fully implemented into the Israeli's defense systems against Qassam rockets fired from Gaza or Lebanon. But provided some success already:

In 2000 and 2001 THEL shot down 28 Katyusha artillery rockets and 5 artillery shells. On November 4, 2002, THEL shot down an incoming artillery shell. A mobile version has completed successful testing. During a test conducted on August 24, 2004 the system successfully shot down multiple mortar rounds. The test represented actual mortar threat scenarios. Targets were intercepted by the THEL testbed and destroyed; both single mortar rounds and salvo were tested.

China "blinded" a US Spy Satelite some years ago with a laser and thus prevented space surveillance of a military site.

A US military company has also developed a laser rifle that is used to "stunn" enemy combatants...

In the 80s the USAF also tested a laser and destroyed a part of the old Satrun V moon rockets with it.

BUT: such a laser is different from what is seen in "Science" Fiction. It destroyes the target by heating it up and melting it.

Rail Guns or Particle accelerators, for instance, are not that advanced in their stage of development. I think it was in early 2008 or in 2007 when the US Navy tested such a system. It was successful, yet the electric energy need was way too high.

As for fighters:
I do not think fighters are really viable in space. Unlike in an athmosphere, a fighter has to be shielded against a multitude of radiation spectrums, it should be armored against enemy weapons (which will be devastating, see above) and you have to supply life support, enough fuel for combat maneuveres, weapons payload, etc.
Myself I do not think Drones are a real alternative to a thinking pilot who can decide not to push the button or who sits in a sheltered room remote-controlling the fightercraft. I guess there is a reason why drones are mostly used for aerial recon (like the "Global Hawk" or "Predator" drones, while the latter are also used for more or less precise strikes using Hellfire-guided missiles).

But of course I could be wrong and I am happy to discuss it.


There's just one thought I had:
Maybe, just maybe, we should stick to keep weapons out of space...



And of course there are the theories about possible engines and methods of moving a ship... in real space or with some fancy FTL drive.

 

[La Patience]

Well i guess I was wrong about the lasers lol. Ya I just thought the laser of today disrupted the guidance of the missiles. Well I have to go for now But I will enjoy a few discussions on the matter lol

 

[Creed]

Greg Bear talked about constant acceleration engines (powered by some near-science harnessing brownian motion).. but he was still talking about basically generation ships.

to go FTL?

they have discovered some particles that apparently do, and more than that some particles that apparently offer sympathetic resonation at FTL speeds... but realistically...

Sorry, I don't think it can be done, there are just too many very real problems with physics even approaching those speeds. Which presumably takes you back to some sort of T-Space/ Hyperspace travel that involves transit through another dimension....

ie basically utterly inconceivable with modern tech.

on the other hand they used to say that a car exceeding fifteen miles an hour would be fatal for the driver, that breaching mach one was invariably lethal for the flyer....