Ex Jupiter, Saturn
2006-10-22 15:25:08 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The price to make a space shuttle that would be able to do so would be far higher than any of the benefits from the gas returned from the planets. That's assuming that the gas is in fact usable and that space shuttles can transport natural gas with the current technology.
2006-10-22 15:33:21 · answer #1 · answered by Justin A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How would you transport it? To do it in economic quantities you would need a gigantic ship. We have not developed that technology - we only move very small probes beyond Earth's orbit.
This also answers the fools who wonder why we haven't been back to the moon, and offer that up as some kind of proof that men never went there.
It took a rocket 360 feet tall (the Saturn V) to be able to move a manned probe beyond Earth's orbit. After Apollo was cancelled there was no need for the Saturn V, as much smaller rockets will get men and women into orbit, or take robots to Mars and so on.
We are decades away from the technology you are suggesting.
Also, the Gas giants have such massive gravities, that we have no technology that could soft-land and take-off.
I am afraid that the lack of common knowledge of these aspects is why people can't understand why we haven't been back to the moon.
All we did with the moon that has 1/6th Earth's gravity was land a 4 tonnes lander - because the abaility to land on solid ground is not very advanced technology.
On Earth, returning atsronauts land with the assistance of air - parachute into the ocean, or using the Shuttle's ability to fly like a plane once it is low enough.
Please read about Apollo missions, and see how difficult it was to land on a small body like the moon.
Also, if people did read about it they would not keep coming up with all this hoax stuff, which is absolute nonsense.
2006-10-22 16:45:08 · answer #2 · answered by nick s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our space travel is SO slow. It would take years to get to the nearest gas planet and back, and it wouldnt really be worth all the money in building such a spaceship when its just harvesting natrual gas. Also, the gravity on a gas planet like that is very strong, so theres a good chance that the ship would get pulled down on its surface. Besides...we've got lots of natural gas here on earth.
2006-10-22 15:29:10 · answer #3 · answered by pyroman10101 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have't come up with an actual NEED to harvest the methane atmospheres of the outer planets. And we certainly haven't figured out a method which is economical enough to make it worthwhile.
But for a more serious, if entertaining view of this question, read Arthur C. Clarke's classic Science Fiction story "Rendevous with Rama". I
2006-10-22 15:30:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We burn as much fuel to get there as we can carry back, making it a rather silly exercise.
2006-10-22 16:14:20 · answer #5 · answered by arbiter007 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. We might if it was cheaper.
2006-10-22 15:34:00 · answer #6 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well you see...they are kinda far away.
2006-10-22 16:33:55 · answer #7 · answered by Devin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋