In a first, NASA returns asteroid samples to Earth

[SteyrAUG]

That was the reason for my question. Based on the answers theoretically it is entirely feasible. Can we do it? IDK, I guess we did but I find it hard to believe.

If you think about the probes we sent to Jupiter and Saturn, we really are getting better at this sort of thing. The real problem is payload. If you think about all the samples brought back from Mars, we're limited in that respect. It's not like we are gonna bring back trainloads full of ore.

Get there, get samples, get back...and that's a pretty neat and sophisticated trick. But like manned landing on the moon, we quickly max what we are able to do.

[rero360]

It’s mainly a storage issue. If you could create a drive (like the Epstein drive from the expanse) that can sustain 1G acceleration for prolonged periods. You could burn for roughly 88 days, getting up to about 1/20 the speed of light, coast for little of 80 years, flip and burn for another 88 days and you could reach the nearest exoplanet. If you can get up to a quarter of C then the trip would take less than 14 years. Obviously it’s not possible but if we could build something like the Nauvoo from the expanse, then the trip becomes more feasible.

[WillBrink]

It’s mainly a storage issue. If you could create a drive (like the Epstein drive from the expanse) that can sustain 1G acceleration for prolonged periods. You could burn for roughly 88 days, getting up to about 1/20 the speed of light, coast for little of 80 years, flip and burn for another 88 days and you could reach the nearest exoplanet. If you can get up to a quarter of C then the trip would take less than 14 years. Obviously it’s not possible but if we could build something like the Nauvoo from the expanse, then the trip becomes more feasible.

A NASA scientist said "...the biggest issue to humanity ever leaving the solar system comes down to three problems, propulsion, propulsion, and propulsion."

I did get to speak with some of them during my visit as press to Kennedy Center people interested in the topic HERE.

I hope to get press credentials again some time in the near future and return. I say, develop a fusion reaction motor, get the fuel (Helium-3) and launch from the moon which ends the fears of nukes, and other issues. They are already looking at legit mining operations on the moon for Helium-3. We are now in the beginning of a race to get back to the moon and start mining it. China, US, India, all in motion to do it, perhaps we will see mining operations in our life time.

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/harness...-from-the-moon

[hotbiggun42]

Can i point out that the Earth is littered with meteorite?

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Can i point out that the Earth is littered with meteorite?

When Bennu slams into Earth next century we'll have a much larger sample without having to go get it.

[hotbiggun42]

A NASA scientist said "...the biggest issue to humanity ever leaving the solar system comes down to three problems, propulsion, propulsion, and propulsion."

I did get to speak with some of them during my visit as press to Kennedy Center people interested in the topic HERE.

I hope to get press credentials again some time in the near future and return. I say, develop a fusion reaction motor, get the fuel (Helium-3) and launch from the moon which ends the fears of nukes, and other issues. They are already looking at legit mining operations on the moon for Helium-3. We are now in the beginning of a race to get back to the moon and start mining it. China, US, India, all in motion to do it, perhaps we will see mining operations in our life time.

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/harness...-from-the-moon

Propulsion may be doable some day but time will be hard to overcome. It would take what 50,000 years to leave our solar system?

[WillBrink]

Propulsion may be doable some day but time will be hard to overcome. It would take what 50,000 years to leave our solar system?

I don't follow. Currently spacecraft Voyager 1 is well outside the solar system ( 14 billion + miles) launched in 1977 and officially left the solar system in 2001. We can and will be moving a lot faster in future missions and traveling within the solar system is viable. Outside the solar system is another matter per comments in #22, and if tech such as I mentioned above, which is not science fiction (warp drives, etc) but legit tech we can likely develop, who knows.

[hotbiggun42]

I don't follow. Currently spacecraft Voyager 1 is well outside the solar system ( 14 billion + miles) launched in 1977 and officially left the solar system in 2001. We can and will be moving a lot faster in future missions and traveling within the solar system is viable. Outside the solar system is another matter per comments in #22, and if tech such as I mentioned above, which is not science fiction (warp drives, etc) but legit tech we can likely develop, who knows.

NASA figured out how to redefine what our solar sytem covers. There is no possible way a spacecraft from Earth has left our solar sytem.

[tn1911]

It would take what 50,000 years to leave our solar system?

Yeah, no.... I think you are referring to the size of the Oort Cloud, nasa admits they have no idea just how big it is and just because it’s theorized to be influenced by the suns gravity.

[tn1911]

NASA figured out how to redefine what our solar sytem covers. There is no possible way a spacecraft from Earth has left our solar sytem.

We currently have not one but two man made probes that have left our solar system and are in interstellar space.