How fast would a computer have to be?

Question

Let's say that you're in outerspace. Now, there is something that NASA hasn't told you guys! Space isn't actually a debree free zone! Technically space is a traffic jam of unidentified objects, flying around in all directions at incredible speeds! So, my question is, "Exactly how fast will the computer have to be, that's designed to avoid these collisions?"

Answer 1

Intel knight is right. But for the sake of answering your question. A computer would have to compute in femtoseconds (femtosecond -- a quadrillionth, or million billionth, of a second ). Just to give you an idea, a picosecond is a trillionth of second. And a femtosecond is is a thousand times shorter than the a picosecond. Seconds are measured in Milliseconds, Nanoseconds, Picoseconds, and then Femtoseconds. This computer would have to be able to simulate every possible outcome based on what objects/elements are floating in space and what would happen if they collide with the spacecraft. A computer operating in femtoseconds would appear to know what was happening before it happens but it still wouldn't be able to do that, all it would be able to do is predict what would/could happen with incredible accuracy.

Answer 2

This depends on several parameters and can't be answered by just defining the speed of the computer.

Other important parameters are:
1. The relation of the mass of the space ship and engines power. This define how fast the spaceship can change its direction.
2. How fast the engines can be fired. If it takes 5 minutes to ignite ... game over.
3. How early is the computer aware of the object on collision course and how much time is left before collision will happen. If the computer gets the information 1 second before impact ... game over.
4. Are humans in the space ship which would limit the acceleration to turn the ship out of way?
5. Are the humans in safe position or walking around ?
etc.
etc.

Thus, you can see the flying with a space ship is indeed still a challenge as long as they don't have radar, lasers or rockets with which they could clean their path.

Answer 3

I think any home computer would be fast enough. It would just need the right software installed. Back in the 1960s it would have taken one of the most powerful computers in the world to do that, but computers have come a long way since the first space flights, unlike the rockets. Today's rockets are no more powerful than the rockets of the 1960s. That is why we have not gone back to the Moon in all this time.

Answer 4

there is not computer. most debris burns up in the atmosphere. and spacecraft are shielded against collisions with small stuff, but they do take damage from larger or faster things.

Answer 5

It could be as slow as it wants if the pilot pays attention but if he didn't it would probably have to be able to process several hundred megabytes per second.

Answer 6

as fast as the driver or the operator

Answer 7

is ur computer travelling in space??

Answer 8

"Ludacris Speed" - I've been waiting years to say that...or should I say "Light years"?

Answer 9

not more than a milli second