Comment Re: Looking more and more likely all the time... (Score 1) 518
How are we to know which of our theories are accurate?
Because they predict things accurately. That's all there is to it.
How are we to know which of our theories are accurate?
Because they predict things accurately. That's all there is to it.
they're just really efficient in a vacuum.
Fixed that for you. Well, for your reader anyway - you probably understand it. Because of the way these things work, they are just about useless anywhere other than a vacuum. The only way you can spend a tiny tiny amount of energy accelerating particles to massive speeds is when there's nothing else in their way for them to bounce off of. But if you are not in any kind of rush for your delta v and are in near total vacuum this is almost a perfect engine.
However, the problem of safely re-entering the atmosphere is a daunting challenge as well.
Yes this is especially true since they updated Kerbal Space Program manager to 1.02...
Today we have far more stuff then our parents ever did.
Er, today there are far more people still living with their parents than ever. If you want to measure "standard of living" in terms of gadgets go ahead. In the 1950's one man could support his wife and several kids with a house fully paid for, health costs were not a problem, etc. Today? You are a slave to the bank. Don't you or your wife dream of getting sick. Can you afford that baby, and more importantly will mom and dad mind you adding yet another family member into the already crowded house?
Solutions are obvious if one only has the optical power to observe them over the horizon. -- K.A. Arsdall