See the universe, but return to an earth far in the future, kind of like "planet of the apes"?

Question

Let's say that one day we invent a fusion powered craft with a very high top speed, lets say 0.99998C where C is the speed of light. Lets say also that there is a planet of interest (possibly containing alien life) about 2500 light years away. At top speed, it would take about 30.5 years to get there and back. By this time about 5000 years has gone by on earth. Also keep in mind that 2500 years will have gone by on the planet once you reach it. Would you embark on a voyage like this, would anyone?

If you learned about Einsteins laws you would know that velocity effects time, the faster the velocity the slower the time.

Answer 1

Austin, your comments about relative time going slower in a nearly light speed ship ARE correct, ignore those who don’t understand.

I’m sure a number of people (not myself among them, but more likely those without strong family ties) would be willing to leave Earth behind. The journey would be made more interesting if (1) the travelers didn’t have to be awake for most of the trip (maybe a deep freeze sleep?), (2) they could live out comfortable generations inside a well supplied ship that had numerous cultural activities (like a flying city), and (3) they had a good idea of what they faced when they arrived (for example, astronomical observations showed there was a habitable planet waiting for them at the other end).

I might think about it a little more if the journey consisted of a comfortable flying city approach. It could be interesting…

Answer 2

Yea, who knows maybe we'll get stopped half way through by the aliens or earthlings going "whoa, whoa... we learned how to bend the fabric of space time/ use worm holes/ manipulate time. Try this..."

Hmm, seriously probably not... it would take 2500 years to get messages of your findings back to Earth once there... you couldn't really share it with anyone. If I did go it would be for totally selfish reasons, oooooooh cool I met aliens. I'd rather send a message out to them and hope that they are already on their way (since whatever made it possible for us to know that they are there took 2500 years to get to us so they should be more advanced).

Answer 3

And why has so much time passed on earth? Gravity does affect time's speed but not by such a large margin they're is plenty of gravity in our galaxy even in the empty space the center of the MIlky Way is still pulling. But even what i'm saying you've still got it backwards more time would pass in the craft then on earth because gravity SLOW's time not increases it.

I don't like culture shock very much, so no.

Answer 4

Your math is wrong. You are still traveling at less than the speed of light. It will take a little longer than 2500 years just to get to the planet. You need to try another method.
I would not spend half of my life trying to reach another planet. I would likely get beat up by my shipmates if I had any.

Answer 5

You should ask yourself: What is the payoff in doing so? What is there to be gained in exchange for leaving behind forever all ties with your life before?

I hope you aren't seriously thinking it's possible for apes (or any other species) to replace humankind in a mere 5000 years? Pierre Boule's original novel was meant as a work of dark satire, a commentary on contemporary society.

Answer 6

That wouldn't happen at that velocity. In order to skip thru time, "supposedly" you must be travelling at the speed of light.

You'd just be travelling incredibly fast. About 670,500,000 mph.

To want to go that fast, your going to need an incredible engine or two.. maybe three.. And, for me to embark on that ride-- I'd have to be on crack.

I have a new idea.. Just make a spaceship that will go that fast, and for drug treatment, send all the crackheads... Maybe they'll be treated by the time they return.

--Rob :)~

Answer 7

Ummm................ I don't know!!!!!