Can We Warp Space Faster Than C? | IXS Enterprise | NASA

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    Bending Space
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concept of warp drives, specifically the IXS Enterprise, and the possibility of warping space to achieve faster-than-light travel. Participants explore theoretical implications, the feasibility of such technology, and the underlying physics involved.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether it is possible to warp space faster than the speed of light, suggesting that if it is not possible, the utility of warp drives compared to other propulsion methods is limited.
  • One participant emphasizes the need for a reliable citation regarding the claims made in the video, indicating skepticism about the source's credibility.
  • A participant references a comment from another video stating that while traveling faster than light is not possible, spacetime itself could theoretically move faster than light.
  • Several participants mention the Alcubierre Drive as a theoretical model for faster-than-light travel, noting that it relies on the existence of negative mass matter, which has not been observed.
  • There is a viewpoint that the Alcubierre Drive is more of a science fiction concept than a feasible technology, with assertions that NASA does not have a prototype or plans for such a drive.
  • Concerns are raised about the misnomer of "proof of concept" regarding the IXS Enterprise, with claims that NASA has not demonstrated the physical possibility of constructing such a ship.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with some skepticism about the feasibility of warp drives and the credibility of the sources discussing them. There is no consensus on the possibility of warping space faster than light, and multiple competing viewpoints remain regarding the theoretical models and their implications.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the dependence on speculative concepts such as negative mass matter and the unresolved nature of the physics involved in warp drive theories. There are also references to the reliability of sources and the interpretation of claims made in popular media.

kolleamm
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I saw a NASA video on Facebook, about a warp drive proof of concept ship, The IXS Enterprise. It's supposed to travel to distant places at faster than light speed by warping the space around it, but that leads me to think if you can warp space faster than the speed of light.
Is it possible? If not, then I don't really see much point in warping space, in comparison to other propulsion methods.
 
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kolleamm said:
I saw a NASA video on Facebook, about a warp drive proof of concept ship, The IXS Enterprise. It's supposed to travel to distant places at faster than light speed by warping the space around it, but that leads me to think if you can warp space faster than the speed of light.
Is it possible? If not, then I don't really see much point in warping space, in comparison to other propulsion methods.
I think either you misunderstood what you saw or the source was unreliable. Please give a SPECIFIC citation and make sure it is an acceptable one, and then we might have something to discuss. "I saw a video" is not a citation at all.
 
I'm trying to get the link to the video but it appears to be posted by an unreliable source just to Facebook.
Here is a very similar video discussing faster than light speed and the warp drive



I quote a person in the comments
"No, it is not possible to travel faster than the speed of light but it is possible for spacetime to move faster than the speed of light."

Not sure if he's right though.
 
Probably a reference to the Alcubierre Drive (I haven't watched the video, but a couple of the slides being presented look rather like the picture on Wikipedia). It's definitely in the category of "if these few impossible things were possible we could travel faster than light". The key requirement is negative mass matter, which we've never seen and have no real reason to believe exists. Sadly.
 
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Ibix said:
Probably a reference to the Alcubierre Drive (I haven't watched the video, but a couple of the slides being presented look rather like the picture on Wikipedia). It's definitely in the category of "if these few impossible things were possible we could travel faster than light". The key requirement is negative mass matter, which we've never seen and have no real reason to believe exists. Sadly.
Alcubierre Drive that's the one! It was mentioned in the video I saw first on Facebook.
 
kolleamm said:
Alcubierre Drive that's the one! It was mentioned in the video I saw first on Facebook.
The Alcubierre Drive is a sci-fic fan's wet dream, not a reality or anything that is likely to become a reality. Certainly NASA does not have a prototype of such a drive since it requires impossible (as far as we know) physics and the existence of such a drive would be HUGE news.
 
kolleamm said:
I saw a NASA video on Facebook, about a warp drive proof of concept ship, The IXS Enterprise.

"Proof of concept" is a bit of a misnomer, since NASA neither has built such a ship, nor plans to build one, nor has even shown that building one is physically possible. (According to most physicists, it isn't, as phinds has pointed out.)
 

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