Welcome to Mars express: only a three hour trip - Page 3

BIG_DADDY · 01-05-2006, 04:02 PM

http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=16902006

Welcome to Mars express: only a three hour trip
IAN JOHNSTON
SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT
AN EXTRAORDINARY "hyperspace" engine that could make interstellar space travel a reality by flying into other dimensions is being investigated by the United States government.

The hypothetical device, which has been outlined in principle but is based on a controversial theory about the fabric of the universe, could potentially allow a spacecraft to travel to Mars in three hours and journey to a star 11 light years away in just 80 days, according to a report in today's New Scientist magazine.

The theoretical engine works by creating an intense magnetic field that, according to ideas first developed by the late scientist Burkhard Heim in the 1950s, would produce a gravitational field and result in thrust for a spacecraft.

Also, if a large enough magnetic field was created, the craft would slip into a different dimension, where the speed of light is faster, allowing incredible speeds to be reached. Switching off the magnetic field would result in the engine reappearing in our current dimension.

The US air force has expressed an interest in the idea and scientists working for the American Department of Energy - which has a device known as the Z Machine that could generate the kind of magnetic fields required to drive the engine - say they may carry out a test if the theory withstands further scrutiny.

Professor Jochem Hauser, one of the scientists who put forward the idea, told The Scotsman that if everything went well a working engine could be tested in about five years.

However, Prof Hauser, a physicist at the Applied Sciences University in Salzgitter, Germany, and a former chief of aerodynamics at the European Space Agency, cautioned it was based on a highly controversial theory that would require a significant change in the current understanding of the laws of physics.

"It would be amazing. I have been working on propulsion systems for quite a while and it would be the most amazing thing. The benefits would be almost unlimited," he said.

"But this thing is not around the corner; we first have to prove the basic science is correct and there are quite a few physicists who have a different opinion.

"It's our job to prove we are right and we are working on that."

He said the engine would enable spaceships to travel to different solar systems. "If the theory is correct then this is not science fiction, it is science fact," Prof Hauser said.

"NASA have contacted me and next week I'm going to see someone from the [US] air force to talk about it further, but it is at a very early stage. I think the best-case scenario would be within the next five years [to build a test device] if the technology works."

The US authorities' attention was attracted after Prof Hauser and an Austrian colleague, Walter Droscher, wrote a paper called "Guidelines for a space propulsion device based on Heim's quantum theory".

Now THAT would be cool.

Calcountry · 01-05-2006, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Athan

I broak this news in to our premium members on warfieldillustrated.com a coupal weaks ago.

**Donger** · 01-05-2006, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4th and Long

It will need one. Moving anywhere near that fast in space, and encountering a piece of debris as small as a grain of sand, would effectively shred the space craft as if it were made of paper mache.

For the second time, IT WON'T BE MOVING IN SPACE AS WE KNOW IT!

Damn, dirty apes!

wilas101 · 01-05-2006, 06:07 PM

It's all fun and games till the first trip when everyone effectively disentigrates because they didn't address newton's first law of motion.

to use the star trek phrase... inertial dampeners.

4th and Long · 01-05-2006, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

For the second time, IT WON'T BE MOVING IN SPACE AS WE KNOW IT!

Damn, dirty apes!

I must have missed the part that said the space that we know nothing about was devoid of debris.

4th and Long · 01-05-2006, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilas101

It's all fun and games till the first trip when everyone effectively disentigrates because they didn't address newton's first law of motion.

to use the star trek phrase... inertial dampeners.

Yep.

**Donger** · 01-05-2006, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4th and Long

I must have missed the part that said the space that we know nothing about was devoid of debris.

Maybe, maybe not. You said it will need it. We don't know that.

Anyway, I just wanted to say damn, dirty apes.

4th and Long · 01-05-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Maybe, maybe not. You said it will need it. We don't know that.

Anyway, I just wanted to say damn, dirty apes.

I hope you got it out of your system because if you didn't I'll start a poll to determine whether or not the Mods need to change your user name to Charlton Heston.

**Donger** · 01-05-2006, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4th and Long

I hope you got it out of your system because if you didn't I'll start a poll to determine whether or not the Mods need to change your user name to Charlton Heston.

Peh. They won't do it. I asked to be changed to HornyAlpaca and they didn't do it.

Hog Rider · 01-05-2006, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcfanintitanhell

I hope I'm not dating myself by responding to this in such a manner.

I just realized, I figured everybody knew where it was from. I am old, and gettin' senile.

We could fly above the clouds together....

4th and Long · 01-05-2006, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Peh. They won't do it. I asked to be changed to HornyAlpaca and they didn't do it.

What a shame. Say ... You want the rest of us to refer to you as HornyAlpaca as a show of solidarity?

01-05-2006, 04:02 PM
BIG_DADDY THE RED MENACE Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texas Casino cash: $5148410	Welcome to Mars express: only a three hour trip http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=16902006 Welcome to Mars express: only a three hour trip IAN JOHNSTON SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT AN EXTRAORDINARY "hyperspace" engine that could make interstellar space travel a reality by flying into other dimensions is being investigated by the United States government. The hypothetical device, which has been outlined in principle but is based on a controversial theory about the fabric of the universe, could potentially allow a spacecraft to travel to Mars in three hours and journey to a star 11 light years away in just 80 days, according to a report in today's New Scientist magazine. The theoretical engine works by creating an intense magnetic field that, according to ideas first developed by the late scientist Burkhard Heim in the 1950s, would produce a gravitational field and result in thrust for a spacecraft. Also, if a large enough magnetic field was created, the craft would slip into a different dimension, where the speed of light is faster, allowing incredible speeds to be reached. Switching off the magnetic field would result in the engine reappearing in our current dimension. The US air force has expressed an interest in the idea and scientists working for the American Department of Energy - which has a device known as the Z Machine that could generate the kind of magnetic fields required to drive the engine - say they may carry out a test if the theory withstands further scrutiny. Professor Jochem Hauser, one of the scientists who put forward the idea, told The Scotsman that if everything went well a working engine could be tested in about five years. However, Prof Hauser, a physicist at the Applied Sciences University in Salzgitter, Germany, and a former chief of aerodynamics at the European Space Agency, cautioned it was based on a highly controversial theory that would require a significant change in the current understanding of the laws of physics. "It would be amazing. I have been working on propulsion systems for quite a while and it would be the most amazing thing. The benefits would be almost unlimited," he said. "But this thing is not around the corner; we first have to prove the basic science is correct and there are quite a few physicists who have a different opinion. "It's our job to prove we are right and we are working on that." He said the engine would enable spaceships to travel to different solar systems. "If the theory is correct then this is not science fiction, it is science fact," Prof Hauser said. "NASA have contacted me and next week I'm going to see someone from the [US] air force to talk about it further, but it is at a very early stage. I think the best-case scenario would be within the next five years [to build a test device] if the technology works." The US authorities' attention was attracted after Prof Hauser and an Austrian colleague, Walter Droscher, wrote a paper called "Guidelines for a space propulsion device based on Heim's quantum theory". Now THAT would be cool.
Posts: 32,382

01-05-2006, 06:07 PM	#33
wilas101 Starter Join Date: Mar 2005 Casino cash: $8459487	It's all fun and games till the first trip when everyone effectively disentigrates because they didn't address newton's first law of motion. to use the star trek phrase... inertial dampeners.
Posts: 775