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Post by torainfor on Mar 16, 2008 18:01:10 GMT -5
If you lived on a planet inhabited by beings who were terrified of EMF and any kind of radiation, not to mention the burning of fossil fuels, what would you use to propel a ship from the surface into orbit?
BTW, the beings are sooper geniuses and about, oh, 30,000 years more technologically advanced than us peons.
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Post by Divides the Waters on Mar 16, 2008 23:16:34 GMT -5
Pneumatic cannons?
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Post by Spokane Flyboy on Mar 17, 2008 3:18:12 GMT -5
Prayer? Or you could be Dune-ish and do it via drug-enhanced telekinesis.
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Post by Christian Soldier on Mar 17, 2008 6:10:16 GMT -5
A really big catapult... in such a case, I would probably go for a massive elevator. It would be easier to build it from space and send it down, but it could be done. I think...
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Post by Jeff Gerke on Mar 17, 2008 8:07:11 GMT -5
Look into railguns. As I understand it, they use magnetism or other similar low-tech force to quickly accelerate things forward. They use it to fire simple "bullets" to shoot down missiles. Less complicated than self-guided warheads on rockets. But it takes better aim, too.
I know it can be controlled in a way that humans could be launched on it because the Rock-n-Roller Coaster at Disney/MGM Studios in Orlando launches its roller coaster cars forward using this technology.
Jeff
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Post by rwley on Mar 17, 2008 9:00:37 GMT -5
How about a vacuum tube like the things at the drive thru bank? Their technology is such that they could a build solar powered receiving station in orbit and have a sending station on the planet, also solar powered. The "tube" is some sort of energy field that is natural to their planet so there is no harmful radiation problem and the ship goes on the platform, they push a button and SWOOSH, they're sucked up to the space platform, put it into drive and head off. Reverse to come home.
Good luck and have fun!
Robi
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Post by Jeff Gerke on Mar 17, 2008 9:15:53 GMT -5
Ah, that's good, Robi.
Torainfor, check into space elevators, too.
Jeff
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Post by Divides the Waters on Mar 17, 2008 10:08:51 GMT -5
That's similar to my notion of the pneumatic cannon. Probably better developed. Remember that solar energy automatically heats air, which causes expansion and pressure differentials, so you could probably simply use energy from whatever nearby star (stellar energy, in this case) to operate a cannon or lift. Never forget the power of water, either; you can create a vacuum without using any electricity simply by utilizing the natural currents of water and heated air.
Because I'm in the camp that says that the fossil fuels we have today are the result of a global Flood, I started my story with the assumption that since these worlds had not had one, neither would they have the advantage of fossil fuels. Therefore, no industrial revolution, etc. There are still high technologies, but they tend to be made by artisans and guilds rather than automation.
So ... would these environmentally-conscious aliens qualify as "little green men"?
Running and ducking.....
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Post by strangewind on Mar 17, 2008 12:32:47 GMT -5
Building on Jeff's comment, how about a space elevator that utilizes nanocarbon ribbon and self-powered organic-nanotechnology for transport? They might be able to move transports back and forth that way at a relatively good clip.
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Post by torainfor on Mar 17, 2008 18:16:30 GMT -5
divides: quick duck; you barely missed a shoe upside your head! I was thinking "Amish-punk" but now I'm distressed to learn I'm not the first to come up with this term.
All y'alls ideas are inspiring. I'm glad I found this forum. Now I need to spend the next six months learning what the heck "nanocarbon ribbon and self-powered organic-nanotechnology" are.
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Post by Divides the Waters on Mar 18, 2008 22:00:09 GMT -5
*snicker*
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Post by scintor on Mar 20, 2008 21:15:23 GMT -5
You might try balloons, strangely enough. They can actually lift pretty heavy loads into the upper atmosphere where a small rocket can finish the job. The downsides are slow ascent and you are prey to the winds (lack of control.)
Scincerely,
Scintor@aol.com
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Post by strangewind on Mar 21, 2008 13:44:15 GMT -5
Real quick: nanocarbon is simply molecule-sized carbon material. In other words, it is a material that can function, say, like steel, but can be incredibly small or thin. The neat thing about nanocarbon is that you could make a really long, really strong "cord" of it that stretches out to space, but doesn't weigh very much. The light weight (well, mass, really) helps keep it from collapsing on itself due to gravitational pull.
Basically, with nanocarbon, you can build a really long ribbon out to a orbital satellite (or counterweight) in space. Then you can build some sort of transport vehicle or platform (i.e. an elevator) that shuttles back and forth on the ribbon.
The self-replicating organic nanotechnology are little tiny robots, made of organic or semi-organic materials that can, using either materials they grow themselves or process from their surroundings, build exact copies of themselves. Which then build exact copies of themselves. They could be the sort of "scout" vehicles for exploration or travel.
Sorry I wasn't clearer earlier.
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