Recent content by CakeOrDeath?

A cylindrical fuselage is what I was thinking. I'll look into the Niven and Cherryh, thanks.

Another question for you guys. Is it feasible to rotate an entire fuselage toward the same end, or is there a plausibility concern there? Bearing in mind that it is science-fiction.

This is actually a great bit of info for my project. Thank you very much!

Interesting stuff. Thanks guys!

Hi all. I posted a question here once before for a sci-fi writing project, and I'm back again to pick the brains of some people more left-brained than myself. Here's the scenario: Imagine you're in a spacecraft with a rotating centrifuge, to create artificial gravity for the astronauts...

I actually have a plan of sorts for dealing with the radiation. That part might need a bit of "suspension of disbelief," but I'm okay with this as it's a key part of the plot. To address your first point, I probably worded it incorrectly when I said "prove." I mean they set out to actually do...

I actually had considered this. The idea is that the pilot becomes sort of a Chuck Yaeger of spaceflight, proving that such a speed is possible for humans to withstand. In that case, suspended animation is a possible means of achieving this. However, I'd hoped to use relativity as a plot device...

This is for a science fiction story, which is why I worded it that way. Unfortunately, my fiction mind works better than my science mind. Your explanation makes sense to me, though. May I ask another question? My story revolves around the idea of someone leaving and then returning roughly 40...

Yes, I'm referring to clocks on earth. I'm not sure I understand your response. Wouldn't a person on a near-light speed ship remain young relative to someone on earth?

Hi, I asked a theoretical question here a month or two ago and someone was able to help me. I have another: Imagine an interstellar race. Starship 1 heads from Earth toward Alpha Centauri at a constant rate close to the speed of light, then makes a loop and returns home. Ship 2 is faster, and...

yulop, that is a fantastic answer and exactly the type of response I needed. Thanks a million!

But this is just a hypothetical. Besides, doesn't dilation occur at all high speeds? Even if you went half the speed of light, dilation would still occur, would it not?

Hi all. I'm working on writing a sci-fi story and I'm really just getting into researching relativity and time dilation. I'm a layman, but the ideas excite me, so I'm trying to figure these things out the best I can. Here is my hypothetical: Say someone were to have a vehicle that could...