Would it be possible to travel to another solar system?

Question

I'm not talking science fiction. I realize that our current propulsion capabilities make it impossible to travel there in one lifetime. but does anyone think that we have the capability to create a self sustaining colony vessle that will serve several generations and will travel to the nearest "earth like" planet. Do we have the energy resources, food development, and recycling capabilites?

Ok, I know this is a bit of a far fetched question but I was just curious.

Answer 1

Well, science fiction writers have pondered that question a lot, and lot of our ideas for space travel have come from their scenarios.

The problem with going to another star system, even the closest one, Alpha Centuri, is not that it would take decades to get there with current propulsion rates, but that we don't yet know what the colonists would find when they get there. The usual model is to send unmanned robot missions first, then explorers, then colonists, so we are a long way away from that last category.

Just look at how long and difficult it has been to just send missions to Mars, our closest planetary neighbor? The big difficulty is finding enough water and carrying or creating enough fuel to get back. You have to pack a pretty big suitcase if you're going to another planet for at least 5 years, and the payload you can easily get off the ground is limited.

Answer 2

This is a very good question. Yes, we could at our current rate of technology reach another solar system. One thing to realize however, is that this would only be done in a dire need, only if we KNEW that the Earth was going to die in 1 year. Then, perhaps we would pool all the resources we had to save humanity.

Because such a mission requires human hibernation, recycling of food and supplies, advanced propulsion, and very effective communication, we would have to use the top-of-the-line technologies available today. So, theoretically we have the capability to accomplish this, but practically and realistically it is not at all a smart thing to do. It would be much more prudent to launch such a mission when more advanced technology becomes available.

Answer 3

Because of health reason and the demands that a colony would need for such a long journey, our best bet is to work on a propulsion system that would allow travel in one tenth the time and send probes. But do not send one probe, but dozens and dozens in areas into star systems of choice.
Sending people would also raise ethical questions. How would you like to be born into a colony on a space mission that you never volunteered for.

Answer 4

Well, for starters, I am by no means a genius in this particular field but it is interesting to contemplate on this question. Let's see: Rumors are about that we should just shut off the idea of ever going to space *humans at least* because of the negative health factors involved and the dangerous experimentation to even make it outside the earth ( like you know when the shuttle explodes). Now if we can get over this controversial but serious topic we might be able to make some good progress. Also we might need to make some drastic technological advances but if we pull this off then I don't see why we couldn't go....... I'm still kinda iffy though. Aren't there like asteroids and BLACK holes out there. I, for one, wouldn't really want to risk a butt load of ppl out there and have then exterminated. But thats just me.

Answer 5

So Far the Only livable Planet in our solar system which supports all biological life is the Good ole Planet Earth. There are delicious mangoes and avocado here.
We do not know of any other Star system which houses a Planet like ours.

Answer 6

some day. but even if it were possible, it would take hundreds of years. scientists have figured a way to freeze things so they can be preserved. but the problem they have is de freezing them. they are thinking of a way to suck things dry so when they unthaw, our bodys will go back to our normal stage and not blow up.

Another problem...by the time we did go to another solar system and back, the pple on the ship would not have aged much while the pple on Earth that they had known would be long gone. cuz u see...time is different in space. it goes slower. so it slows are heartrate and and all that stuff. thats why astronaughts have to be carefully monitered when they come back from space cuz their heart rate is slower than the pple on earth

Answer 7

My feeling is that if we can imagine how it can be done - ie. figure out the main principles of how big the ship should be, how it could be put together in orbit, how to make it self-sustaining, etc, then I reckon it CAN be done. Once the main theoretical problems are understood (and I think they are), the rest is just a matter of collective will-power.

Answer 8

I've read your Question several times--and i know im going to get pounded by everyone--but the way you stated your Question--i well say yes-humans could if they wanted to-build a ship-with the powder and the ion engines--to do what you ask-But ne one on Earth well want to pay for this project-Today-It's the cost-That stops people-but we do have the knowledge to do what you ask-if people wanted to-

Answer 9

Possibly in MANY hundred years. But right now, we simply don't have technology that could let us do that. However, cameras and other tools similar to that are currently being invented to go to different solar systems. Makes you wonder what the world's gonna be like in the year 2500, doesn't it?

Answer 10

Not in our lifetime. The Voyager space craft that was launched in the 70's hasn't even reached the Oort cloud of our solar system.