 Editor in Chief Bill   | 18 Feb 2024 7:05 a.m. PST |
Japanese probe will test ability of wood to withstand the rigors of space. The Guardian: link |
| Stryderg | 18 Feb 2024 5:02 p.m. PST |
hmmm, load it up with radium gas and it should just float up to orbit on it's own. ;)
I'm kind of hoping it works out (the actual test, not the radium gas). |
 miniMo  | 18 Feb 2024 5:49 p.m. PST |
To the aether, and beyond! |
 Parzival | 19 Feb 2024 7:06 a.m. PST |
While appreciating the call out to classic SF, I will note that "orbit" is a function of velocity, not distance. But it's really not a bad idea, if the mass cost is equivalent. Wood ain't gonna rot in space. Interesting that magnolia wood has proven to be the most viable choice. I wonder if they considered cardboard? Would give new meaning to the term "shoebox satellite." |
| Oberlindes Sol LIC | 21 Feb 2024 10:16 p.m. PST |
That's wonderful. Can't wait for the anime set in a wooden space station. |
ScottWashburn  | 24 Feb 2024 6:34 p.m. PST |
Which story used "Liftwood" as sort of anti-gravity material? Something to do with Mars as I recall. |
| TheBeast | 01 Mar 2024 10:14 a.m. PST |
Which only grew on Mars, so there was an alternative from the start. Thank goodness for Edison and Armstrong! (Everyone understands tongue-in-cheek…) Parzival: Understood, but isn't escape velocity so much higher than orbital that 'getting there' would be a huge savings? That said, still requires some thrust. Doug |
| ScottWashburn | 05 Mar 2024 5:02 p.m. PST |
Actually, orbital velocity is a function of distance. In low Earth orbit, you need to be going around 17,200 MPH to maintain orbit. At 22,223 miles (Geosynchronous Orbit) you only have to be going about 7,000 MPH. The trick is getting that high :) |
| TheBeast | 06 Mar 2024 12:38 p.m. PST |
Which was the point of using anti-grav and angular momentum to get that high? Mind, at first, that's PAINFULLY slow. Doug |
| 79thPA | 20 May 2024 1:11 a.m. PST |
@ScottWashburn, "The Forever Engine" by Frank Chadwick? link |
