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Started By
Message
Something to consider before sending nano-probes speeding off into space
Posted on 8/27/16 at 4:23 pm
Posted on 8/27/16 at 4:23 pm
One idea is to send nano-probes at some incredible speed so that they can reach Proxima Centauri in a reasonable amount of time (20 years travel time IIRC). One possible idea is to use a laser to accelerate these probes at 20% the speed of light. In theory.
The problem the only way these probes will ever slow down from that speed is if they hit something. Even at that very small mass those probes would be delivering an amount of energy equivalent to a small atomic bomb due to their speed.
So, if we send out a string of probes to transmit back data, and they don't get stopped and then all hit a planet beyond somewhere, we will be effectively bombing that planet from afar.
The problem the only way these probes will ever slow down from that speed is if they hit something. Even at that very small mass those probes would be delivering an amount of energy equivalent to a small atomic bomb due to their speed.
So, if we send out a string of probes to transmit back data, and they don't get stopped and then all hit a planet beyond somewhere, we will be effectively bombing that planet from afar.
15
Posted on 8/27/16 at 4:25 pm to PatDyesPants
quote:
we will be effectively bombing that planet from afar
AMERICA
frick YEAH
Posted on 8/27/16 at 4:25 pm to PatDyesPants
How much pot have you smoked today?
Posted on 8/27/16 at 4:28 pm to PatDyesPants
They should have been watching out for bombs.
We are watching for incoming interstellar shite.
Their fault, as I see it.
We are watching for incoming interstellar shite.
Their fault, as I see it.
Posted on 8/27/16 at 4:28 pm to PatDyesPants
What if unexplained sudden deaths on earth are caused by nano probes sent from Proxima Centauri?
Posted on 8/27/16 at 4:30 pm to PatDyesPants
if the planet has an atmosphere I don't think these tiny probes would make it through without burning up.
If it doesn't have an atmosphere there would be no life to negatively affect.
It would be decades before the probes even traveled far enough to have the potential to reach another solar system, with no gaurantee it would be aimed directly at one. Plus the chances of hitting something as small as a planet as spread out and vast as the galaxy is would be pretty low IMO.
If it doesn't have an atmosphere there would be no life to negatively affect.
It would be decades before the probes even traveled far enough to have the potential to reach another solar system, with no gaurantee it would be aimed directly at one. Plus the chances of hitting something as small as a planet as spread out and vast as the galaxy is would be pretty low IMO.
Posted on 8/27/16 at 4:30 pm to PatDyesPants
Wouldn't they burn up in the atmosphere? Assuming there's an atmosphere?
Posted on 8/27/16 at 4:57 pm to PatDyesPants
I heard one was sent to uranus
Posted on 8/27/16 at 5:08 pm to PatDyesPants
If they pass close enough to a star or even a large planet, the gravitational pull might be strong enough to slow it down.
Posted on 8/27/16 at 7:18 pm to PatDyesPants
quote:
The problem the only way these probes will ever slow down from that speed is if they hit something
Those planets should have not been in the left lane.
Posted on 8/27/16 at 7:41 pm to PatDyesPants
Wouldn't most planets's atmospheric pressure crush the probe before impact? I know NASA has used both Saturn and Jupiter's atmospheres to dispose of crap we were done using.
Posted on 8/27/16 at 8:33 pm to PatDyesPants
Space is pretty fricking big and even if a section of it looks crowded, there is still a lot of space between individual objects. The odds of a random collision are, shall we say......astronomical.
Posted on 8/27/16 at 8:43 pm to PatDyesPants
When it comes to space, Issac Newton is the most deadly mother F-er around
Posted on 8/27/16 at 9:10 pm to PatDyesPants
Why don't you call up those PhDs and inform them of their gross oversight.
You do realize that it wouldn't be going at those speeds for a flyby, that it probably wouldn't be aimed to intercept the planet, and even if it did, the atmosphere would either deflect it or instantly incinerate it?
You do realize that it wouldn't be going at those speeds for a flyby, that it probably wouldn't be aimed to intercept the planet, and even if it did, the atmosphere would either deflect it or instantly incinerate it?
Posted on 8/28/16 at 12:08 am to PatDyesPants
Email this to NASA before it's too late.
Posted on 8/28/16 at 7:59 am to PatDyesPants
quote:
So, if we send out a string of probes to transmit back data, and they don't get stopped and then all hit a planet beyond somewhere, we will be effectively bombing that planet from afar.
The formula for relativistic kinetic energy is:
E = mc2/sqrt(1/(v2/c2)) - mc2
Assuming a 1kg probe (far more massive than those being contemplated) traveling at 0.2 c, we can plug in and get:
E = mc2/0.98 - mc2 = .02 mc2 = .02 x 90 gigajoules.
I'm guessing that some of the rest mass might also get converted too, but even total conversion to energy can't be more than 92 gigajoules.
According to LINK a MOAB bomb is about 50 gigajoules, so an impact is very roughly the size of the biggest conventional explosives. Really bad if you happen to be standing there and would destroy a city block or two.
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