NASA planning to develop warpdrive?

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In summary, NASA's warp drive program, which is being tested to see if it is feasible, has received $50k in funding. While there is skepticism about its potential, NASA has a history of investing in fringe technologies with high payoffs. It remains to be seen if more funding will be allocated to this program in the future.
  • #1
AdrianHudson
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http://spaceref.com/nasa-hack-space/propulsion/clarifying-nasas-warp-drive-program.html

I don't know how good the source is and the issue date is suspect but could NASA really be on the road to developing something like this? They mention that $50k has been put into the program but if something like this was feasible wouldn't they dump way more money into the program to give it the best RND cycle? Seems false to me but would be interested in some input.
 
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  • #4
AdrianHudson said:
http://spaceref.com/nasa-hack-space/propulsion/clarifying-nasas-warp-drive-program.html

I don't know how good the source is and the issue date is suspect but could NASA really be on the road to developing something like this? They mention that $50k has been put into the program but if something like this was feasible wouldn't they dump way more money into the program to give it the best RND cycle? Seems false to me but would be interested in some input.

They are still testing to see if it feasible.
 
  • #5
PopSci has become notoriously poor at reporting science news over the past decade or two. Ironically, their sister, Popular Mechanics, is much better. That said, if you put the hype aside, the basic issue of the story appears accurate: NASA is doing Alcubierre Drive research ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive ).

While that's interesting/cool on an intellectual level, it doesn't go beyond that. The idea has a basic limitation that the "warp field" can't be set up faster than the propagation speed of light, so the first visitor anywhere would have to travel below light speed or just wait a very long time before starting-out, thus defeating the purpose. That's in addition to having no idea how to power such a thing or even if the exotic matter/energy it seems to require even exists.
 
  • #6
I couldn't resist o:)

ANhKE.jpg
 
  • #7
Searching the relativity forum for "Alcubierre" will find a number of discussions of this idea, including more on this particular NASA initiative.
 
  • #8
DennisN said:
I couldn't resist o:)

ANhKE.jpg

Tachyon designated drivers might get arrested on the way to the bar, but once they get there, they can drink as much as they want!
 
  • #9
tiny-tim said:
that article is dated 04.01.2013 at 11.03am :wink:

THATS WHAT I WAS THINKING :p! Its a giant ruse haha :) :biggrin:
 
  • #10
russ_watters said:
PopSci has become notoriously poor at reporting science news over the past decade or two. Ironically, their sister, Popular Mechanics, is much better. That said, if you put the hype aside, the basic issue of the story appears accurate: NASA is doing Alcubierre Drive research ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive ).

While that's interesting/cool on an intellectual level, it doesn't go beyond that. The idea has a basic limitation that the "warp field" can't be set up faster than the propagation speed of light, so the first visitor anywhere would have to travel below light speed or just wait a very long time before starting-out, thus defeating the purpose. That's in addition to having no idea how to power such a thing or even if the exotic matter/energy it seems to require even exists.

Do you think if they threw more money at it they would see an accelerated RND and thus allowing them to actually start going beyond and trying to find this matter. It seems that coincidentally CERN is testing if anti-gravity actually exists combing these two things could this drive be possible in 100 years?

Adding onto this, the higgs boson is what gives matter its mass correct? So the anti-matter counterpart the anti-higgs what would that do? The universe is oh so complex :mad: but it addd beauty to it don't it :)
 
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  • #11
tiny-tim said:
that article is dated 04.01.2013 at 11.03am :wink:

Hm... it took this Brit a while to work out what was special about the 4th of January.

But thinking at sub-light-speed got there in the end :biggrin:
 
  • #12
That NASA is putting a small amount of money into this does not mean that NASA is "planning to develop warp drive." It just means they're putting a small amount of money into it. NASA has put larger chunks of money into technologies that are far from the mainstream. Very, very far from the mainstream. The rationale apparently is that even though this stuff is far from the mainstream, the potential payoff is so huge that it is worthwhile to put small amounts of money into these fringe technologies.
 
  • #13
D H said:
That NASA is putting a small amount of money into this does not mean that NASA is "planning to develop warp drive." It just means they're putting a small amount of money into it. NASA has put larger chunks of money into technologies that are far from the mainstream. Very, very far from the mainstream. The rationale apparently is that even though this stuff is far from the mainstream, the potential payoff is so huge that it is worthwhile to put small amounts of money into these fringe technologies.

Very true say, these high pay off fringe technologies would you say are like an investment where you invest a little bit of money and you let that investment grow or would it be better to jump on it and put a bigger portion of funding like say 200k or even 300k into it. If it is feasible it seems like an investment that's worthwhile.
 

1. How does warp drive technology work?

Warp drive technology involves manipulating the fabric of space-time to create a "warp bubble" around a spacecraft. This allows the spacecraft to travel faster than the speed of light by contracting the space in front of it and expanding the space behind it, essentially creating a shortcut through space-time.

2. Is NASA close to developing warp drive technology?

While NASA has been researching and exploring the possibility of warp drive technology, it is still far from being a reality. Theoretical models have shown that it is possible, but the technology is still in its early stages and many challenges and obstacles need to be overcome before it can be developed.

3. What are some potential applications of warp drive technology?

Warp drive technology could potentially revolutionize space travel by allowing us to reach distant planets and galaxies in a fraction of the time it currently takes. It could also have implications for time travel and the exploration of the universe.

4. What are some potential risks or drawbacks of warp drive technology?

One of the main concerns with warp drive technology is the amount of energy that would be required to create and sustain a warp bubble. Additionally, the effects on the surrounding space and any potential disruptions to the fabric of space-time are still not fully understood and could have unforeseen consequences.

5. When can we expect to see warp drive technology being used in space missions?

It is difficult to predict when (or if) warp drive technology will be used in space missions. While NASA has expressed interest in further research and development, there are still many challenges to overcome and it could be decades before we see any practical applications of this technology.

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