machodonkeywrestler: Like Niven's stage trees?

Perhaps more like the Hyperion Cantos' treeships?

fusillade762: /dnrtfa

Came here to post that.

/Good movie
//Please, Darren Aronofsky, stop making terrible stories into adequate movies and go back to sci-fi

Subby wishes he had 50 micro newtons of thrust

Fano: Will we also have giant space hamsters?

No, just the miniature versions.

We were lost, none of us knew where we were. Then Harry starts 'feeling around on all the trees' and he says... "I got it we on Pluto", I say, 'Harry how can ya tell?", and he says, "from the bark, you dummies. Ha-ha! From the bark!"

hawcian: machodonkeywrestler: Like Niven's stage trees?

Perhaps more like the Hyperion Cantos' treeships?

I'm hoping for dyson spheres.

.Gunny Walker: [i895.photobucket.com image 850x417]

Came for the Wreck of the Byzantium, leaving satisfied

Princess Ayeka would like to have a word with you.

The article started off really promising. To my non-expert self, it initially sounded like they might have created a thruster that needed only energy, no reaction mass. Such an engine is the key to truly conquering space. Alas, about 2/3 through, they let on that these thrusters require liquid reaction mass.

Subby...we have that propulsion, used in space for more than a decade.
Link

Miniature satellites, however, are a more novel and relatively unexplored realm of thought.

The problem is that the oaks will soak up all the ions. Er, light.

/hatchet
//axe
///saw

omeganuepsilon: Subby...we have that propulsion, used in space for more than a decade.
Link

Miniature satellites, however, are a more novel and relatively unexplored realm of thought.

CubeSats have been operational for a while now. If your payload can fit in a 10 x 10 x 10 cm cube and weighs less than 1.33 kg (roughly 4 inches and 3 pounds), it can be launched into low Earth orbit and deployed using a standardized system. The CubeSat(s) and in-orbit launcher can be piggybacked onto conventional satellite payloads for less than $100,000.

These new ion microthrusters can give CubeSats or other nanosatellites the same maneuverability and aiming capabilities as their full-sized counterparts

common sense is an oxymoron: omeganuepsilon: Subby...we have that propulsion, used in space for more than a decade.
Link

Miniature satellites, however, are a more novel and relatively unexplored realm of thought.

CubeSats have been operational for a while now.

Still all we can do with the cubes is hang them up there for a bit.
I was referring to the article's purposes. What can be done with the cubes that are mobile.

IIRC, the ion propulsion is a sloooooooow acceleration, so in this case smaller doesn't necessarily mean more agile. He's talking about spins and such in the article as if you're up there with a tiny jet, zipping around everything that's in the way and such. Not sure if that's possible without some kind of conventional propulsion/thrusters.

Emposter: The article started off really promising. To my non-expert self, it initially sounded like they might have created a thruster that needed only energy, no reaction mass. Such an engine is the key to truly conquering space. Alas, about 2/3 through, they let on that these thrusters require liquid reaction mass.

It's the efficiency of the thing that is impressive.
Since the game of space travel is all about weight,Carrying a few ounces of fuel is far superior to carrying hundreds of pounds.

/The ions gotta come from somewhere.

Emposter: The article started off really promising. To my non-expert self, it initially sounded like they might have created a thruster that needed only energy, no reaction mass. Such an engine is the key to truly conquering space. Alas, about 2/3 through, they let on that these thrusters require liquid reaction mass.

The only way to have an engine that didnt need fuel would be to build a photon rocket. Consider how effective pushing yourself around with a lightbulb would be. The energy input required to get practical thrust would be on the order of exploding hydrogen bombs, in which case you might as well just use H-bombs.

Well, or an Alcubierre drive, but that has its own problems.

If you want to have practical interstellar travel on a time scale compatible with a contiguous human civilization, you need new physics. Period.

There should be a "NOT WARP DRIVE" tag for every "space propulsion breakthrough" article that is actually just an incremental step like this one...

/disappoint

Mad_Radhu: Someone's been reading Saga.

/Lying Cat FTW

Everyone should be reading Saga. It's freaking awesome

Honest Bender: [antiotaku.files.wordpress.com image 450x338]

'Bout time!

Let me add this: