Slashdot Mirror
Feather-based Jacobean Space Chariot
simonmsh writes "The article Cromwell's moonshot: how one Jacobean scientist tried to kick off the space race describes 17th century plans to build a space chariot out of springs, feathers and gunpowder. The design was based on the idea that gravity disappeared at an altitude of 20 miles, which was called into question by Hooke ? and Boyle ? 's work.
It sounds like the plot of a Neal Stephenson book." Said book, and its sequels are phenomenal.
That's funny, I could have sworn gravity dissapeared within 3 inches of our receptionist's breasts...
Although I think getting within 20 miles of them is a longshot...
I have a plan. Using mainly spoons, we'll tunnel our way out of the city...
Give me a big enough spring, and I can move Rubin Studdard into low earth orbit.
I wonder if macgyver could have done better...
Be you Admins? nay, we are but lusers!
TIme Travel Possible:-
It came in the shape of a 17th-century clergyman who drew up plans for a spaceship powered by wings, springs and gunpowder, a leading science historian will reveal this week
I mean wow, just wow.
"17th century plans to build a space chariot out of springs, feathers and gunpowder. The design was based on the idea that gravity disappeared at an altitude of 20 miles"
I wonder if the thing could have made it 20 miles up. If someone builds one, I will supply the bound and gagged - erm, I mean "Jacobean Spacesuited" test pilots.
-
"Of course his approach did not work because he based it on the premise that the Earth's pull only went up 20 miles and if you crossed that 20 miles, you could float after that," no, i think the main reason it didn't work was because it was a clockwork flapping machine..
I don't mean to insult the poster, but I wonder what's so interesting about that post? Did the mods go "ooh, yes, infinite containers in our bodies, that's an interesting thought"...
I'm scared.
Although gravity doesn't disapear after 20 miles, you can acheive geostationary orbit at 22 miles - so they weren't too far off.
... they were 22 miles off
No, wait - I think I'm missing the obvious
It's obvious 17th century England is trying to use its stocks of springs, feathers and gunpowder to develop WMDs. I say we invade now. We don't want to wait until the smoking feathers becomes a mushroom cloud.
You were a bit slow as a child... weren't you?
I reset my case.
I think you can read it in this case as "+5, Mocks Idiotic Theist by Comparing him to a Child". It's not the first time "Interesting" has been used this way.
Yeah, but it's not like Stephen King died or anything...
CBA@#$
free ipod and free gmail!
Ah...I knew *something* bothered me about John Carmack's X-Prize vehicle.
A few hundred years earlier, it would have been much easier. One only had to board a ship and sail to the edge of the earth. Since it was flat, they would have been able to sail to the edge and merely jump off into space. Unfortunately, space travelers at the time had no way to return, so it was very difficult to sell tickets to rich kings.
but that's the way with pioneers
Don't you mean "fireworks"?
I, for one, welcome our timetravelling anonymous coward posting timelords.
liqbase
Unfortunately, Wilkins never had the chance to test his theories, and what Professor Chapman terms the Jacobean Space Programme was grounded. - I don't think the author of this likes this Wilkins guy too much.
You can't handle the truth.
Then I considered the volume of food we eat and just couldn't fathom what was happening to it.
:) But like you, I couldn't see how it would keep from filling up. Weird how one can be going to the bathroom on one's own for a couple years and still not get it, heh.. This also reminds me of a more recent bit of idiocy I read only a few years ago. Somebody was saying the reason you get the munchies from smoking pot is because it warms up your liver, which heats your stomach causing it to expand, and thus feel less full.
When I was little, some grownup mentioned me eating like I had a hollow leg. Well that's what I wound up seriously believing for a brief period.
A slip in the translation is always possible. Maybe these 'manuals' are just player handbooks for a really early RPG. :)
This ofcourse has nothing to do with space travel, however, to keep the thing on topic, I too am from England! So maybe theres a pattern emerging!! :-D
:-)
I say! Did I make some sort of comment that lead you to believe I was from Blighty? A thousand apologies my good sir, but I'm afraid I'm located on the other side of the pond!
Or was your comment in reference to the Professor in the article?
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
A little like John Edward 'dictating' a new chapter of the Old Testament called "Moses had Laser Pistols"
Actually he did. But Pharoah shot first. Don't let the revisionists tell you otherwise.
Actually, there has been a new text discovered and translated called the "VYMAANIDASHAASTRA AERONAUTICS NO FLY WATCHLIST".
This sounds a little suspicious to me. A little like John Edward 'dictating' a new chapter of the Old Testament called "Moses had Laser Pistols"
With that many 23s in it, it's either highly suspicious, or it holds the very key to the secrets of the universe fnord...
Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
Ya figure? ;-)
This is my post. There are many others like it. If you don't like what you read here, go try one of the others.
Swing low, sweet space chariot.
So...
Samara Sutradhara + Kama Sutra = History's first Mile High Club?
He who questions training, only trains himself at asking questions. -- The Sphinx, Mystery Men