The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Member Map
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. Non Life Sciences
  3. Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology
  4. What is the latest technology to enhance the speed of space travel?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

What is the latest technology to enhance the speed of space travel?

  • 2 Replies
  • 2439 Views
  • 0 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Etienne

  • Guest
What is the latest technology to enhance the speed of space travel?
« on: 28/11/2011 01:30:03 »
Etienne asked the Naked Scientists:
   
What technology is used in the latest travel to Jupiter taking 5 years? The increase in speed capability seems to have been enhanced significantly. What has changed?

What do you think?
« Last Edit: 28/11/2011 01:30:03 by _system »
Logged
 



Marked as best answer by on 10/02/2021 20:46:36

Offline Soul Surfer

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 3384
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 6 times
  • keep banging the rocks together
    • View Profile
    • ian kimber's web workspace
  • Undo Best Answer
  • What is the latest technology to enhance the speed of space travel?
    « Reply #1 on: 29/11/2011 10:28:16 »
    The time it takes to perform a journey around the solar system depends on how much energy you are prepared to put into getting there and of course slowing down when you have arrived if you are not going to go zooming by.  The Voyager probes were fly bys and intending to leave the solar system so they went very quickly.  Even then there were severe worries in the design about the life of critical electronics (still using some tube technology) not being long enough to do the full journey.  As it happened they both worked very well.  More recent probes like Galileo involved orbiters  and so had to approach much more gently to avoid the need for large quantities of fuel to slow down when you got there they also used gravity assist from other planets and so had to go the long way round to pick up the "free" energy. 

    I am not sure which mission your five year trip time refers to but the recent pluto spacecraft got there much quicker.
    Logged
    Learn, create, test and tell
    evolution rules in all things
    God says so!
     

    Offline CliffordK

    • Naked Science Forum King!
    • ******
    • 6406
    • Activity:
      0%
    • Thanked: 16 times
    • Site Moderator
      • View Profile
    What is the latest technology to enhance the speed of space travel?
    « Reply #2 on: 29/11/2011 17:25:40 »
    There has been some discussion about Plasma Rocket Engines 

    They are still experimental, but undoubtedly we'll see similar technology in our future deep space probes.
    Logged
     



    • Print
    Pages: [1]   Go Up
    « previous next »
    Tags:
     

    Similar topics (5)

    Can anything be "still" in space?

    Started by SeanyBoard Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

    Replies: 31
    Views: 13738
    Last post 31/12/2017 16:56:38
    by jeffreyH
    Is "Space" distinct from "nothingness"? (and the Vacuum)

    Started by geordiefBoard Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

    Replies: 36
    Views: 4290
    Last post 30/06/2019 22:47:32
    by pensador
    We Know The Extent Of The Sun, What Is The Extent Of Space Time?

    Started by TitanscapeBoard Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

    Replies: 2
    Views: 11161
    Last post 27/04/2008 23:10:10
    by turnipsock
    If the Universe is expanding, does this mean that space is expanding?

    Started by EthosBoard Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

    Replies: 14
    Views: 11933
    Last post 27/03/2020 21:05:55
    by yor_on
    Is a stationary object in space really stationary?

    Started by chintanBoard Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology

    Replies: 20
    Views: 10881
    Last post 19/03/2020 14:55:35
    by Paul25
    There was an error while thanking
    Thanking...
    • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
      Privacy Policy
      SMFAds for Free Forums
    • Naked Science Forum ©

    Page created in 0.19 seconds with 39 queries.

    • Podcasts
    • Articles
    • Get Naked
    • About
    • Contact us
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Subscribe to newsletter
    • We love feedback

    Follow us

    cambridge_logo_footer.png

    ©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.