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Antimatter Space Drive

sckienle writes "Space.com has an article on using anti-matter for propulsion in space. It isn't true Star Trek warp stuff, in fact it is a variation on an fusion based pellet design I saw in the late 70's, but interesting concept. The concept is still somewhat of a dream, as stated in the article: 'The real hub is the storage [of antimatter]. There's a lot of technology between here and there.' Later on it also mentions that we can't produce a lot of antimatter efficiently yet. Still it might be worth the effort if the theoretical acceleration proves out." The BBC has a story about studying antimatter in a lab.

21 of 359 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting by drhairston · · Score: 4, Funny
    However, any advanced design like this is not without its hurdles. "The real hub is the storage," Howe says. "There's a lot of technology between here and there."

    That is quite possibly the most circuitous way I have ever seen someone admit that something is impossible. Fascinating.
    --
    Dr. Joseph Hairston
    Superintendent, CCBC
    1. Re:Interesting by L.+VeGas · · Score: 5, Funny

      There's a lot of technology between here and there

      This is like saying that the only impediment to being rich is all the money you don't have yet.

    2. Re:Interesting by HeghmoH · · Score: 5, Funny

      By that definition, it is impossible for me to have a burrito. That's true, right now. However, in ten minutes, I can go to the burrito place, and I'll easily have it.

      When people say things are impossible, without qualifiers, they mean it's impossible forever.

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    3. Re:Interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      But I think you'll need to concede my basic point, which is that it is impossible for you to have an antimatter burrito. Especially with current technology.

    4. Re:Interesting by Skyshadow · · Score: 4, Funny

      Weirdly, I am actually having a burrito right now (surfing during a seriously late lunch). I feel very metaphysical right now.

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      Every year during my review, I just pray the words "slashdot.org" aren't mentioned.
    5. Re:Interesting by Anonvmous+Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      "But I think you'll need to concede my basic point, which is that it is impossible for you to have an antimatter burrito."

      The technology to do that cannot be that far off. Today it's possible for the human body to convert a burrito from one state of matter into another. If the human body can turn a solid into a gas, then it's possible to have an anti-matter burrito one day.

    6. Re:Interesting by JohnFluxx · · Score: 3, Funny

      "No! Don't bang on that magne..." BOOOOOOMMM

    7. Re:Interesting by geekoid · · Score: 4, Funny

      leave it to a DS9 book to use the stupidest way possible to transfer something in a world with teleporters.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  2. Hm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It isn't true Star Trek warp stuff, in fact it is a variation on an fusion based pellet design I saw in the late 70's, but interesting concept.

    Are you sure those aren't tracers from the bad acid you took back in the late 70's?

  3. What are the mods thinking??? by glwtta · · Score: 5, Funny
    A story relating to religion and then a story with the word "antimatter" in it right after? Do you realize how many insane rantings by people who consider themselves to be experts in such matters (no pun intended) will be the result of this?

    I mean, come on - why not post Linux vx. MacOS X and Emacs vs. vi stories while you are at it.

    --
    sic transit gloria mundi
    1. Re:What are the mods thinking??? by Psiren · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'd imagine someone is working on an antimatter producing lisp extension for emacs already ;-)

  4. Grrr.. by Loki_1929 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Later on it also mentions that we can't produce a lot of antimatter efficiently yet."

    We'd be able to produce tons of it by now if the frickin' Vulcans didn't hold us back!

    --
    -- "Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else."
  5. Better than what? by shrikel · · Score: 5, Funny
    From the article: Howe is laying the groundwork for a faster, better, cheaper antimatter drive.

    Faster, better, and cheaper than all the other antimatter drives we have already produced?

    --
    Any sufficiently simple magic can be passed off as mere advanced technology.
  6. Re:The cost of antimatter... by phud · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah but look how much vcr's have come down in the last few years!

  7. Re:closest star by scotch · · Score: 5, Funny

    Actually, you're both wrong. The closest star is the Sun. But that's just me being pedantic.

    --
    XML causes global warming.
  8. Social justice would reduce the cost considerably. by theonomist · · Score: 5, Funny

    In a just society, where the wants of the underprivileged are not left unattended-to, in a truly accepting and broad-minded multicultural community where spiritual values and emotional resonance are cherished and rewarded, it's clear that the hierarchically-constrained "male physics" which enforces today's high antimatter prices would cease to obtain.

    I invite you all to contemplate the joys and rewards of a non-judgemental, people-centered physics, which takes emotional and spiritual considerations are factored into every equation. With such a "physics of the heart" taught as a scientifically acceptable and morally rewarding alternate truth -- for there are always many mutually exclusive and identically valid truths, especially in matters of radiation -- adequate supplies of antimatter would be within the reach of all! Imagine every child having enough antimatter to dream and to grow, to achieve his or her full creative potential as an individual, regardless of his or her astrological sign!

    Is it truly so radical, to contemplate making science the servant of humanistic values, rather than their enemy? Is it really necessary for antimatter, like the so-called "Western literary canon", to be the exclusive province of dead white males? I think not.

    --
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  9. This is for REAL! by NutMan · · Score: 4, Funny
    Just a coincidence I am sure, but over on anti-slashdot.org they have an article about some guy who actually built one of these babies...

    It topped out at 3,492,901 MPH, and then the impact of space dust turned their little umbrella thingy inside out. Now they're trying to figure out how to stop the damn thing, by firing a cold fusion cannon out the front...

  10. Re:And in 20 years.... by Loki_1929 · · Score: 5, Funny

    " We'll see antimatter missles :(

    Sorry, I think you typed a '(' where you meant to type a ')' .

    " We'll see antimatter missles :)"

    I'm excited to! :P

    --
    -- "Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else."
  11. Re:won't work by mr_z_beeblebrox · · Score: 5, Funny

    Example: a dude sitting on a sled on a frozen pond, with a sackful of bricks. When he throws a brick off the sled

    Te ice breaks and he sinks....thus, never posting about his high school physics class again.

  12. Re:Space.com math by JonnyElvis42 · · Score: 5, Funny

    About 40 times about 5 equals about 250.

    It comes out a little closer for extremely large values of 5.

  13. Re:Sorry for yet another Star Trek reference, but. by geekoid · · Score: 3, Funny

    and by crystal, you mean magic little rock.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect