Recent content by Minty

Hmm, it would seem that all in all the fuel issue is not one that can be resolved simplistically. I'll write some software and get some simulations running to see how it hangs together. I may have to decide between fudging the science to get useful journey times or falling back on the ark...

pervect: thanks for the link, interesting reading. The fuel issue is discussed in terms of conservation of energy and momentum resulting in large fuel to weight ratios that probably correspond to the views expressed elsewhere; that the amount of fuel required (even at 100% mass conversion)...

:cry: Rats, that was either too easy or you saw it before

Okay, I had that general impression from my layman’s grasp of relativity but I'm now looking for specifics. Perhaps I should start the ball rolling by addressing some issues I am having constructing a virtual spaceship that is to be used to traverse interstellar space. Assume we require a...

You are in a room with 3 light switches. These switches are connected to 3 separate light bulbs in an ajoining room. Access to the ajoining room is via a door that remains closed, there are no windows, other people etc etc. You are allowed to enter the ajoining room once and then return. At...

There have be several threads discussing aspects of space travel and how relativistic effects could be utilised to enable travel to other stars in reasonable experienced elapsed times. I want to describe and utilise such spaceships in my science fiction writing whilst resorting to as few...