FTL: Who Proposed It & What Other Sci Fi Uses It?

In summary, FTL travel is a hypothetical means of transportation that uses faster-than-light technology. Gene Roddenberry was the first person to suggest this concept in the TV series "Star Trek."
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Stephanus
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Anybody knows who's the first to suggest FTL? Gene Roddenberry?
And what about other sci fi FTL. Do they use warp drive or other means?
Thanks.
 
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John W Campbell Jr was the writer who laid the groundwork for such facilitating devices as the space-warp in Islands of Space (Spring 1931 Amazing Stories Quarterly; 1957) and hyperspace in The Mightiest Machine (December 1934-April 1935 Astounding; 1947), where the term made its debut; where he led, legions followed. Stories which work harder than most to make such notions plausible include Robert A Heinlein's Starman Jones (1953), Murray Leinster's The Other Side of Nowhere (1964), A Bertram Chandler's Catch the Star Winds (1969) and David Zindell's Neverness (1988). Memorable imagery relating to hypothetical means of FTL travel can be found in James Blish's tales of cities-become-starships by courtesy of the Spindizzy, Cities in Flight (omni 1970), and in Kenneth Bulmer's "Strange Highway" (April 1960 Science Fantasy) and Bob Shaw's The Palace of Eternity (1969). Many sf stories suggest that the pilots of FTL spaceships may have to be specially adapted to the task, sometimes by cyborgization (see Cyborgs), becoming more-or-less alienated from their own kind; notable examples include Cordwainer Smith's "Scanners Live in Vain" (January 1950 Fantasy Book #6), Anne McCaffrey's The Ship who Sang (coll of linked stories 1969), Gerard F Conway's Mindship (1974), Kevin O'Donnell Jr's Mayflies (1979), Joan Cox's Star Web (1980), Vonda N McIntyre's Superluminal (1984), Melissa Scott's trilogy begun with Five Twelfths of Heaven (1985), and Emma Bull's Falcon (1989).
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/faster_than_light
 
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Stephanus said:
Anybody knows who's the first to suggest FTL? Gene Roddenberry?
And what about other sci fi FTL. Do they use warp drive or other means?
Thanks.
The Skylark of Space, E.E. "Doc." Smith, 1915 completed in 1921, accidently discovered FTL using copper combined with element X
 

1. What is FTL and who proposed it?

FTL stands for Faster Than Light and it refers to the concept of traveling faster than the speed of light. The idea was first proposed by a scientist named Albert Einstein in his Theory of Relativity in the early 20th century.

2. Is FTL possible according to our current understanding of science?

No, according to our current understanding of physics and the laws of the universe, FTL is not possible. The Theory of Relativity states that the speed of light is the maximum speed that anything in the universe can travel. So, traveling faster than that would require breaking the fundamental laws of physics.

3. What other sci-fi uses FTL as a concept?

FTL has been a popular concept in science fiction for many years, and has been featured in various TV shows, movies, and books. Some examples include Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Battlestar Galactica.

4. Are there any theories or research being done to make FTL travel possible?

There have been some theories and research exploring the idea of FTL travel, but none have been proven to be possible. Some theories suggest using wormholes or manipulating space-time to achieve FTL travel, but these are still highly speculative and have not been proven.

5. Could FTL ever become a reality in the future?

It is currently impossible to say for sure if FTL will ever become a reality. With advancements in technology and further understanding of the laws of the universe, it is possible that we may find a way to travel faster than light in the distant future. However, it is also important to note that there are many obstacles and challenges that would need to be overcome before FTL travel could become a reality.

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