0 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:30,000 Dear viewer, these subtitles were generated by a machine via the service Trint and therefore are (very) buggy. If you are capable, please help us to create good quality subtitles: https://c3subtitles.de/talk/716 Thanks! 1 00:00:14,070 --> 00:00:17,009 Who would love to leave this planet? 2 00:00:17,010 --> 00:00:18,010 Raise your hand. 3 00:00:20,670 --> 00:00:21,899 Wow, that's a lot. 4 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,189 Luckily, is there some opportunities 5 00:00:26,190 --> 00:00:28,259 coming up, this 6 00:00:28,260 --> 00:00:30,539 Mars One where you can 7 00:00:30,540 --> 00:00:32,909 go to Mars but without 8 00:00:32,910 --> 00:00:34,080 a return ticket? 9 00:00:35,490 --> 00:00:36,839 And who applied for this one? 10 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:38,729 Do we have any applicants for Mars One in 11 00:00:38,730 --> 00:00:40,829 the whole world? 12 00:00:40,830 --> 00:00:42,239 More than we expected. 13 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:43,919 Just three, four. 14 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:45,990 So just a few of brave. 15 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:51,989 But recently, also, SpaceX announced 16 00:00:51,990 --> 00:00:54,149 their detailed technical plans on how to 17 00:00:54,150 --> 00:00:56,399 get to Mars and their technical 18 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:58,559 plans for the vehicle, who has seen 19 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:00,659 the announcement raise your hands? 20 00:01:00,660 --> 00:01:02,819 Yes, quite some 21 00:01:02,820 --> 00:01:04,919 people are informed since we already 22 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:07,109 know three or four people who would go 23 00:01:07,110 --> 00:01:09,599 to Mars without coming back, who would 24 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:11,729 trust his life to Elon Musk 25 00:01:11,730 --> 00:01:13,559 and go up there with him. 26 00:01:16,370 --> 00:01:17,809 Some more, some more. 27 00:01:17,810 --> 00:01:19,879 Yeah, I definitely see a colony up there. 28 00:01:22,030 --> 00:01:23,799 OK, by the way, what's the difference 29 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:25,629 between the Berlin airport and Mars? 30 00:01:28,470 --> 00:01:30,419 Humans will land on Mars in the 31 00:01:30,420 --> 00:01:31,420 foreseeable future. 32 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,429 So next talk is not only about MS. 33 00:01:41,430 --> 00:01:43,559 It's about the three thousand 34 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,379 five hundred eighteen known exoplanets 35 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:49,589 and how to pick the right one for 36 00:01:49,590 --> 00:01:51,299 civilization attempt. 37 00:01:51,300 --> 00:01:53,189 And we'll also learn about how to get 38 00:01:53,190 --> 00:01:55,049 there and what technology you need for 39 00:01:55,050 --> 00:01:57,359 the research, because as we know, 40 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,279 it's not about the target, it's about the 41 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:00,280 journey. 42 00:02:00,890 --> 00:02:02,959 Liz George and Peter Roskam, who have 43 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,059 both provided us with food for thought on 44 00:02:05,060 --> 00:02:06,409 prior to three events, 45 00:02:08,060 --> 00:02:10,689 are now here for us on this stage. 46 00:02:10,690 --> 00:02:12,979 They have many things in common. 47 00:02:12,980 --> 00:02:15,019 They are both instrument builders for 48 00:02:15,020 --> 00:02:16,729 astrophysics. 49 00:02:16,730 --> 00:02:18,409 They both work at the Max Planck 50 00:02:18,410 --> 00:02:21,139 Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, 51 00:02:21,140 --> 00:02:22,909 and they are both working in the same 52 00:02:22,910 --> 00:02:24,109 infrared group. 53 00:02:24,110 --> 00:02:25,939 And on top of that, they both developed 54 00:02:25,940 --> 00:02:27,649 some of the world's most sensitive 55 00:02:27,650 --> 00:02:28,650 instruments. 56 00:02:30,110 --> 00:02:32,389 Please take us with you on 57 00:02:32,390 --> 00:02:34,609 a journey through space, 58 00:02:34,610 --> 00:02:35,749 Liz and Peter. 59 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:47,389 So hi, everybody. 60 00:02:47,390 --> 00:02:48,409 It's great to be here. 61 00:02:48,410 --> 00:02:49,909 I think this is by far the biggest 62 00:02:49,910 --> 00:02:51,349 audience that either of us has ever 63 00:02:51,350 --> 00:02:52,489 spoken in front of this one. 64 00:02:52,490 --> 00:02:53,659 The biggest one. 65 00:02:53,660 --> 00:02:55,339 The biggest one. So thanks for coming 66 00:02:55,340 --> 00:02:56,340 out. 67 00:03:00,380 --> 00:03:01,969 So today, we want to tell you about 68 00:03:01,970 --> 00:03:04,309 interplanetary colonization and by 69 00:03:04,310 --> 00:03:06,859 extension, interstellar colonization, 70 00:03:06,860 --> 00:03:08,719 which is much harder. 71 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,179 So we'll start out with the question, why 72 00:03:11,180 --> 00:03:12,979 leave Earth first? 73 00:03:12,980 --> 00:03:14,959 It's a pretty great place, right? 74 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:16,909 So this is our home planet. 75 00:03:18,410 --> 00:03:20,569 It is about 70 percent 76 00:03:20,570 --> 00:03:22,309 surface area covered in water, as you 77 00:03:22,310 --> 00:03:23,479 heard in the last talk. 78 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,269 It's got a convenient 1g of gravity, 79 00:03:26,270 --> 00:03:28,669 one part of atmospheric pressure. 80 00:03:28,670 --> 00:03:30,499 The atmosphere is about 20 percent 81 00:03:30,500 --> 00:03:31,219 oxygen. 82 00:03:31,220 --> 00:03:33,049 And don't forget the most important part. 83 00:03:33,050 --> 00:03:35,059 Oh, yeah. It's the only planet we know of 84 00:03:35,060 --> 00:03:36,679 that has Wi-Fi. 85 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:38,899 So Earth 86 00:03:38,900 --> 00:03:40,309 is pretty great. 87 00:03:40,310 --> 00:03:41,509 Why leave it? 88 00:03:41,510 --> 00:03:44,239 And we can start with analyzing 89 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,429 the past history of Earth, namely 90 00:03:46,430 --> 00:03:48,199 that Earth hasn't always been such a 91 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:49,549 great place to live. 92 00:03:49,550 --> 00:03:52,219 So this is the fraction of species 93 00:03:52,220 --> 00:03:54,319 to go extinct in each 94 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:56,659 time interval as a function of time. 95 00:03:56,660 --> 00:03:58,249 So this goes back about five hundred and 96 00:03:58,250 --> 00:03:59,899 fifty million years. 97 00:03:59,900 --> 00:04:01,189 And there's a lot of space on this 98 00:04:01,190 --> 00:04:03,289 planet, five of which are known as 99 00:04:03,290 --> 00:04:05,179 the Big Five Extinction events. 100 00:04:05,180 --> 00:04:07,369 And you may have heard of some of these, 101 00:04:07,370 --> 00:04:09,439 one of which the most 102 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:11,659 latest one here is when all 103 00:04:11,660 --> 00:04:13,699 of the dinosaurs were wiped off of the 104 00:04:13,700 --> 00:04:14,749 planet. 105 00:04:14,750 --> 00:04:16,699 So something else you might not know of 106 00:04:16,700 --> 00:04:18,528 is that we're, in fact, in the middle of 107 00:04:18,529 --> 00:04:21,109 the sixth big extinction event 108 00:04:21,110 --> 00:04:23,389 on our planet where we're losing species 109 00:04:23,390 --> 00:04:25,219 at a rate a thousand times above the 110 00:04:25,220 --> 00:04:26,539 background. 111 00:04:26,540 --> 00:04:28,789 So we can ask 112 00:04:28,790 --> 00:04:30,679 ourselves what has caused these 113 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:32,429 extinction events in our history. 114 00:04:33,530 --> 00:04:35,569 There's many things. So the first big 115 00:04:35,570 --> 00:04:37,159 extinction event was because we actually 116 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:38,329 had too much oxygen. 117 00:04:39,620 --> 00:04:41,449 Extinctions also happened due to too 118 00:04:41,450 --> 00:04:43,549 little oxygen, volcanoes, 119 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,509 sea level changes, global warming, 120 00:04:47,510 --> 00:04:48,529 global cooling, 121 00:04:49,610 --> 00:04:51,739 giant meteors hitting the earth and 122 00:04:51,740 --> 00:04:53,359 most recently, human activity. 123 00:05:01,770 --> 00:05:04,169 OK, so you can say you 124 00:05:04,170 --> 00:05:05,669 were actually much more advanced than the 125 00:05:05,670 --> 00:05:08,039 dinosaurs, we have technology 126 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:09,359 in principle, we should be able to 127 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,179 survive any of these planet, altering 128 00:05:12,180 --> 00:05:14,129 potential extinction, causing events that 129 00:05:14,130 --> 00:05:15,389 come our way. 130 00:05:15,390 --> 00:05:18,029 But actually, in the very long term, 131 00:05:18,030 --> 00:05:20,129 we have a bigger problem and 132 00:05:20,130 --> 00:05:21,599 that is our son. 133 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:23,819 So eventually our son will 134 00:05:23,820 --> 00:05:25,919 use up all of its hydrogen fuel 135 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:28,139 and balloon up into a red giant. 136 00:05:28,140 --> 00:05:30,449 So first, all of the water will boil 137 00:05:30,450 --> 00:05:32,099 off of the earth. 138 00:05:32,100 --> 00:05:34,019 That won't be pleasant for anyone. 139 00:05:34,020 --> 00:05:36,209 And then eventually the star will grow so 140 00:05:36,210 --> 00:05:37,949 large that it actually envelops the earth 141 00:05:37,950 --> 00:05:40,409 inside of the star and completely 142 00:05:40,410 --> 00:05:41,849 freeze the planet. 143 00:05:41,850 --> 00:05:44,069 So given that this is C.C.C., 144 00:05:44,070 --> 00:05:46,409 you can think of it as making 145 00:05:46,410 --> 00:05:48,749 an off site backup of humanity before 146 00:05:48,750 --> 00:05:51,089 your server room burns down, which 147 00:05:51,090 --> 00:05:53,669 in this case and in the cloud and beyond. 148 00:05:53,670 --> 00:05:55,829 Yes, in this case, we know it 149 00:05:55,830 --> 00:05:58,469 will. So we actually have a pretty strong 150 00:05:58,470 --> 00:06:00,629 motive here to get off of our planet 151 00:06:00,630 --> 00:06:02,849 in the foreseeable future. 152 00:06:02,850 --> 00:06:04,469 So that brings us to our next question, 153 00:06:04,470 --> 00:06:06,989 namely, where are we going? 154 00:06:06,990 --> 00:06:09,839 So all of you in the audience and 155 00:06:09,840 --> 00:06:12,089 our previous speakers 156 00:06:12,090 --> 00:06:14,249 have talked about Mars, and 157 00:06:14,250 --> 00:06:15,809 we also want to know how we learn about 158 00:06:15,810 --> 00:06:17,489 our new home. 159 00:06:17,490 --> 00:06:19,559 So this is what Mars looks like from 160 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:20,519 space. 161 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:22,709 And you can think this is a good target 162 00:06:22,710 --> 00:06:25,139 for us. It's relatively close in terms 163 00:06:25,140 --> 00:06:27,449 of interstellar space if you 164 00:06:27,450 --> 00:06:29,099 want to get an idea of distances. 165 00:06:29,100 --> 00:06:30,509 Stick around for the last talk in this 166 00:06:30,510 --> 00:06:32,669 track about how space really is 167 00:06:32,670 --> 00:06:33,670 huge. 168 00:06:34,140 --> 00:06:36,399 And you heard from John Warner. 169 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:37,949 It'll take about two years round trip 170 00:06:37,950 --> 00:06:39,149 there and back. 171 00:06:39,150 --> 00:06:41,549 So Mars also has an atmosphere, 172 00:06:41,550 --> 00:06:43,919 but it's very thin, mostly CO2. 173 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:45,299 It doesn't have a magnetic field. 174 00:06:45,300 --> 00:06:47,849 So it's constantly bombarded by 175 00:06:47,850 --> 00:06:50,399 cosmic rays and solar wind. 176 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:51,989 So this essentially sterilizes the 177 00:06:51,990 --> 00:06:53,309 surface and means that humans would have 178 00:06:53,310 --> 00:06:54,959 to live underground. 179 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,299 It's also pretty cold there. 180 00:06:57,300 --> 00:06:59,429 So while Mars is close 181 00:06:59,430 --> 00:07:01,319 and technically is in the habitable zone 182 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,389 of our sun, meaning there's can be liquid 183 00:07:03,390 --> 00:07:05,489 water on the surface, it's 184 00:07:05,490 --> 00:07:07,139 not actually that comfy of a place to 185 00:07:07,140 --> 00:07:08,189 live. 186 00:07:08,190 --> 00:07:10,079 Another target that people talk about is 187 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,299 Europa. So this is one of the moons 188 00:07:12,300 --> 00:07:14,729 of Jupiter. There's several of them. 189 00:07:14,730 --> 00:07:16,949 And this has been 190 00:07:16,950 --> 00:07:19,229 a very interesting target because 191 00:07:19,230 --> 00:07:20,939 it's actually an ocean world. 192 00:07:20,940 --> 00:07:23,249 So the entire moon is covered in water 193 00:07:23,250 --> 00:07:25,349 with a very hard, thick 194 00:07:25,350 --> 00:07:27,599 ice shell on the outside. 195 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:28,889 And conveniently, it also has an 196 00:07:28,890 --> 00:07:30,539 atmosphere of almost pure oxygen. 197 00:07:30,540 --> 00:07:32,549 So you think, great, it's got an ocean, 198 00:07:32,550 --> 00:07:33,489 it's got oxygen. 199 00:07:33,490 --> 00:07:34,490 What more could we want? 200 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,069 Unfortunately, the average temperature on 201 00:07:38,070 --> 00:07:40,289 the surface is so cold that the ISIS 202 00:07:40,290 --> 00:07:42,119 is hard as granite and you'll have to 203 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:44,249 drill through 15 kilometers of it before 204 00:07:44,250 --> 00:07:45,659 you get to the ocean. 205 00:07:45,660 --> 00:07:47,729 It's also sitting in Jupiter's 206 00:07:47,730 --> 00:07:49,679 radiation belts. So the radiation 207 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:51,959 intensity on the surface is so high that 208 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:55,049 a human would die in less than 12 hours. 209 00:07:55,050 --> 00:07:57,149 So also not so pleasant. 210 00:07:57,150 --> 00:07:59,429 And also the monolith tells us not to 211 00:07:59,430 --> 00:08:00,339 them. 212 00:08:00,340 --> 00:08:01,340 That's true. 213 00:08:04,290 --> 00:08:06,329 OK, but the really interesting thing is 214 00:08:06,330 --> 00:08:07,949 these planets are close and we actually 215 00:08:07,950 --> 00:08:10,109 know an extraordinary amount about them. 216 00:08:10,110 --> 00:08:12,089 And the question is, how do we know these 217 00:08:12,090 --> 00:08:12,989 things? 218 00:08:12,990 --> 00:08:15,149 So in our solar system, we 219 00:08:15,150 --> 00:08:17,219 can actually send satellites to orbit the 220 00:08:17,220 --> 00:08:19,289 planets and landers that 221 00:08:19,290 --> 00:08:21,629 sometimes crash, but sometimes 222 00:08:21,630 --> 00:08:23,129 actually land there and give us some 223 00:08:23,130 --> 00:08:24,269 information. 224 00:08:24,270 --> 00:08:26,639 So this is a picture of 225 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:28,709 a mountain. It's Mount Sharp on Mars, and 226 00:08:28,710 --> 00:08:30,299 it's actually taken by the Curiosity 227 00:08:30,300 --> 00:08:32,009 rover that is sitting there on the planet 228 00:08:32,010 --> 00:08:33,249 right now taking data. 229 00:08:34,380 --> 00:08:36,839 So this is a selfie curiosity 230 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:38,129 took of itself. 231 00:08:38,130 --> 00:08:39,569 And one of the really cool things about 232 00:08:39,570 --> 00:08:41,699 curiosity is it's got a giant laser on it 233 00:08:41,700 --> 00:08:43,678 that it uses to actually vaporize the 234 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:45,539 rocks and analyze them. 235 00:08:45,540 --> 00:08:47,399 So we have this probe sitting there, and 236 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:49,229 this is the first spectrum to come out of 237 00:08:49,230 --> 00:08:51,689 this rock vaporizing laser 238 00:08:51,690 --> 00:08:53,199 measurement device. 239 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,259 And what you can see here is a 240 00:08:55,260 --> 00:08:57,269 whole bunch of spikes in the spectrum. 241 00:08:57,270 --> 00:08:59,879 And each of those, if you have 242 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:02,069 some very good chemists back home, 243 00:09:02,070 --> 00:09:04,799 can be matched to different 244 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,109 elements. And so you can see our soil 245 00:09:07,110 --> 00:09:10,079 on Mars has iron, magnesium, silicon, 246 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:12,359 aluminum, calcium, et cetera, 247 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,729 all things that would be very useful to 248 00:09:14,730 --> 00:09:17,549 say potential habitants of Mars 249 00:09:17,550 --> 00:09:19,799 or just in general to know about 250 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:22,269 what kind of life could live on Mars. 251 00:09:22,270 --> 00:09:24,329 So you are essentially saying we 252 00:09:24,330 --> 00:09:26,369 are safe and growing potatoes now? 253 00:09:26,370 --> 00:09:28,949 Yeah, we could grow potatoes in this, 254 00:09:28,950 --> 00:09:29,950 for example. 255 00:09:31,550 --> 00:09:33,739 OK, so again, 256 00:09:33,740 --> 00:09:35,029 this brings us back to our previous 257 00:09:35,030 --> 00:09:37,129 problem, though, of the sun is eventually 258 00:09:37,130 --> 00:09:39,259 going to envelop the Earth and make Mars 259 00:09:39,260 --> 00:09:41,089 a hellish desert world. 260 00:09:41,090 --> 00:09:43,249 So we've got to go a little 261 00:09:43,250 --> 00:09:44,330 bit farther than Mars. 262 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:47,739 And that brings us 263 00:09:47,740 --> 00:09:49,809 to exoplanets, so this is 264 00:09:49,810 --> 00:09:51,999 a graph of the exoplanet detections 265 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,339 per year since the 1980s, 266 00:09:54,340 --> 00:09:56,649 and you can see, you know, 30 years 267 00:09:56,650 --> 00:09:58,509 ago we didn't even know that there were 268 00:09:58,510 --> 00:10:00,429 other planets in the universe other than 269 00:10:00,430 --> 00:10:01,959 in our solar system. 270 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:04,269 And in the last several years, we've 271 00:10:04,270 --> 00:10:06,339 really learned about an explosive growth 272 00:10:06,340 --> 00:10:08,169 of exoplanets while they were there all 273 00:10:08,170 --> 00:10:10,119 along. But our detection technologies got 274 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:12,129 better and they're detected in many 275 00:10:12,130 --> 00:10:13,479 different ways. But today, I'm just going 276 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:14,679 to tell you about two different ways. 277 00:10:14,680 --> 00:10:17,139 They detected the radio velocity 278 00:10:17,140 --> 00:10:18,729 and the transmitting method since most of 279 00:10:18,730 --> 00:10:20,409 our exoplanets were detected that way. 280 00:10:21,550 --> 00:10:23,649 OK, so the first thing you should know 281 00:10:23,650 --> 00:10:26,199 is that a planet doesn't orbit a star, 282 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:28,419 so rather a planet in a star. 283 00:10:28,420 --> 00:10:31,149 Both orbit the common center of mass 284 00:10:31,150 --> 00:10:32,379 between the system. 285 00:10:32,380 --> 00:10:34,299 So in this graph, you see the big thing 286 00:10:34,300 --> 00:10:35,379 is the star, the little things, the 287 00:10:35,380 --> 00:10:37,179 planet and the star is wiggling back and 288 00:10:37,180 --> 00:10:38,199 forth. 289 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,299 And what this means is as 290 00:10:40,300 --> 00:10:41,919 if you're observing the star as it moves 291 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:43,839 back and forth. The light is Doppler 292 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:45,049 shifted throughout the orbit. 293 00:10:45,050 --> 00:10:46,419 And what you get is you get slightly 294 00:10:46,420 --> 00:10:47,739 blue, shifted light on one part of the 295 00:10:47,740 --> 00:10:49,329 orbit and red shifted light on the other 296 00:10:49,330 --> 00:10:50,229 side. 297 00:10:50,230 --> 00:10:51,789 And if you observe it for a very long 298 00:10:51,790 --> 00:10:53,859 time, what you see is a periodic 299 00:10:53,860 --> 00:10:56,259 signal and you can analyze this periodic 300 00:10:56,260 --> 00:10:57,999 signal to learn about the mass of the 301 00:10:58,000 --> 00:10:59,949 planet that's orbiting how long the 302 00:10:59,950 --> 00:11:01,929 planets here is and how far it is from 303 00:11:01,930 --> 00:11:02,930 the star. 304 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:05,799 So this is a this is a very precise 305 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:07,689 way to detect planets, but you need an 306 00:11:07,690 --> 00:11:10,269 extremely precise spectrograph. 307 00:11:10,270 --> 00:11:11,709 And this has been done in different ways 308 00:11:11,710 --> 00:11:13,449 over the years. 309 00:11:13,450 --> 00:11:15,399 Early attempts used vats of boiling 310 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,439 hydrofluoric acid to calibrate the 311 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:19,239 spectrograph wasn't so great for the 312 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:20,139 instrumentation. 313 00:11:20,140 --> 00:11:22,359 These days, people use laser combs. 314 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:23,529 Stick around for the next talk if you 315 00:11:23,530 --> 00:11:24,580 want to learn about lasers. 316 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:27,279 So the other way that we detect 317 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:29,589 exoplanets is the transiting method. 318 00:11:29,590 --> 00:11:31,569 So this is the method used by the Kepler 319 00:11:31,570 --> 00:11:33,219 spacecraft. And basically what you do is 320 00:11:33,220 --> 00:11:35,319 you stare at a whole bunch of stars 321 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,389 for years and you wait for 322 00:11:37,390 --> 00:11:39,579 the planet to go in front of the star 323 00:11:39,580 --> 00:11:41,679 and you would see a very slight dip 324 00:11:41,680 --> 00:11:43,989 in the brightness that 325 00:11:43,990 --> 00:11:45,199 will change over time. 326 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:47,349 And an earth like transit 327 00:11:47,350 --> 00:11:49,599 of a planet lasts about 13 hours 328 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:51,279 and happens once a year. 329 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:54,189 So on average, need for these transits to 330 00:11:54,190 --> 00:11:55,179 define an orbit. 331 00:11:55,180 --> 00:11:57,429 And so it takes many 332 00:11:57,430 --> 00:11:59,049 years of observing before you get the 333 00:11:59,050 --> 00:12:00,050 exoplanets. 334 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,029 So what you get from this, in contrast 335 00:12:04,030 --> 00:12:05,589 to the previous method where you get the 336 00:12:05,590 --> 00:12:07,329 mass of the planet, you get the radius of 337 00:12:07,330 --> 00:12:08,799 the planets, you know how big it is. 338 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:10,149 But since you have no idea what it's made 339 00:12:10,150 --> 00:12:11,949 of and how dense it is, you don't know 340 00:12:11,950 --> 00:12:12,950 how much it weighs. 341 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:16,719 But what you can find from the system, if 342 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,819 you know about your star, 343 00:12:18,820 --> 00:12:20,229 how much light it outputs, is you can 344 00:12:20,230 --> 00:12:22,029 define a habitable zone where the surface 345 00:12:22,030 --> 00:12:24,069 of your planet could have liquid water. 346 00:12:24,070 --> 00:12:25,539 And what you can do is you can take the 347 00:12:25,540 --> 00:12:27,159 orbit and the size and you can get a good 348 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:29,739 idea of roughly what the planet's 349 00:12:29,740 --> 00:12:32,139 system looks like and whether the planet 350 00:12:32,140 --> 00:12:33,729 is in the habitable zone. 351 00:12:33,730 --> 00:12:35,259 So this is an example of the first 352 00:12:35,260 --> 00:12:37,299 roughly earth sized planet located in the 353 00:12:37,300 --> 00:12:38,830 habitable zone of a red dwarf. 354 00:12:39,940 --> 00:12:42,069 And the reason the orbit is smaller 355 00:12:42,070 --> 00:12:43,839 in comparison to our solar system. 356 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,509 So this is the F orbit 357 00:12:46,510 --> 00:12:48,129 and that's roughly comparable to the 358 00:12:48,130 --> 00:12:50,259 orbit of Mercury is because the Red Dwarf 359 00:12:50,260 --> 00:12:51,260 star is dimmer. 360 00:12:53,260 --> 00:12:54,819 But that brings us to the next question. 361 00:12:54,820 --> 00:12:56,619 OK, so we know it's a roughly earth size 362 00:12:56,620 --> 00:12:57,999 planet and it's sitting in the habitable 363 00:12:58,000 --> 00:12:59,709 zone, but does it ever breathable 364 00:12:59,710 --> 00:13:00,609 atmosphere? 365 00:13:00,610 --> 00:13:02,199 Does it have a greenhouse effect that 366 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:03,459 might make it warmer? 367 00:13:03,460 --> 00:13:05,619 How do we find this out? 368 00:13:05,620 --> 00:13:07,779 And the problem 369 00:13:07,780 --> 00:13:10,239 with studying planets around other stars 370 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:11,409 is that they're super faint. 371 00:13:11,410 --> 00:13:13,029 So there's actually a planet in this 372 00:13:13,030 --> 00:13:14,049 image. 373 00:13:14,050 --> 00:13:16,149 And if I hadn't put this label here, you 374 00:13:16,150 --> 00:13:17,649 probably wouldn't be able to tell where 375 00:13:17,650 --> 00:13:18,769 it is. 376 00:13:18,770 --> 00:13:20,469 And in fact, this is a planet that's 377 00:13:20,470 --> 00:13:22,539 sitting super far out from its star. 378 00:13:22,540 --> 00:13:24,909 It's way past the orbit of even 379 00:13:24,910 --> 00:13:26,049 Neptune. 380 00:13:26,050 --> 00:13:28,179 And if you wanted to observe as an 381 00:13:28,180 --> 00:13:30,099 Earth like orbit, it would be way in 382 00:13:30,100 --> 00:13:31,089 here. 383 00:13:31,090 --> 00:13:33,369 And it's roughly a factor of a million 384 00:13:33,370 --> 00:13:34,899 fainter than the stars. So digging out 385 00:13:34,900 --> 00:13:36,249 the signal from behind the star is 386 00:13:36,250 --> 00:13:37,449 extremely hard. 387 00:13:37,450 --> 00:13:38,709 And one thing you should know about 388 00:13:38,710 --> 00:13:40,869 telescopes is that the bigger they 389 00:13:40,870 --> 00:13:42,849 are, the smaller this diffraction pattern 390 00:13:42,850 --> 00:13:45,399 is. So if you make a bigger telescope, 391 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:47,529 you concentrate the starlight closer 392 00:13:47,530 --> 00:13:49,239 in and in principle you can see these 393 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:50,919 smaller orbits. 394 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:53,109 So this here is 395 00:13:53,110 --> 00:13:54,219 the Kepler satellite. 396 00:13:54,220 --> 00:13:56,349 That is what has actually detected most 397 00:13:56,350 --> 00:13:57,940 of our exoplanets in the universe 398 00:13:59,290 --> 00:14:01,209 that we know of so far. 399 00:14:01,210 --> 00:14:03,279 And soon NASA will 400 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:04,569 be launching GBW. 401 00:14:04,570 --> 00:14:07,209 It's a factor of roughly six figure. 402 00:14:07,210 --> 00:14:08,439 So that's great. 403 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:10,599 And actually, the Europeans are 404 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:12,759 planning to build something called the 405 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:14,889 extremely large telescope. 406 00:14:16,570 --> 00:14:18,819 Not a joke, that's actually the name, 407 00:14:18,820 --> 00:14:20,229 but it will have a thirty nine meter 408 00:14:20,230 --> 00:14:22,299 dish. And this will enable us to 409 00:14:22,300 --> 00:14:24,519 directly study exoplanet 410 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:26,739 atmospheres with the hope being 411 00:14:26,740 --> 00:14:27,879 determining whether any of these 412 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,189 habitable planets actually have 413 00:14:30,190 --> 00:14:32,199 an atmosphere that would be conducive to 414 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:34,179 humans colonizing the planet. 415 00:14:35,890 --> 00:14:38,349 So I'll end my section 416 00:14:38,350 --> 00:14:40,779 with the Kepler ORAY here. 417 00:14:40,780 --> 00:14:43,449 And this is all of the known exoplanets 418 00:14:43,450 --> 00:14:44,679 from the Kepler mission 419 00:14:45,730 --> 00:14:47,889 in their orbits 420 00:14:47,890 --> 00:14:49,899 to scale. So the bigger planets are 421 00:14:49,900 --> 00:14:51,339 Jupiter sized and the small ones are 422 00:14:51,340 --> 00:14:52,389 size. 423 00:14:52,390 --> 00:14:54,249 And if you want to learn more about all 424 00:14:54,250 --> 00:14:56,349 of the worlds that we know of outside 425 00:14:56,350 --> 00:14:58,239 of our solar system, you can go check it 426 00:14:58,240 --> 00:14:59,619 out. On NASA's website, they have 427 00:14:59,620 --> 00:15:01,809 something called the New World's Atlas, 428 00:15:01,810 --> 00:15:03,279 where you can learn about each and every 429 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:04,570 one of these exoplanets. 430 00:15:05,950 --> 00:15:07,539 So with that, I'm going to hand it over 431 00:15:07,540 --> 00:15:09,579 to Peter, who's going to cover how we get 432 00:15:09,580 --> 00:15:10,690 there. All right. 433 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:21,269 Yeah, how do we get there? 434 00:15:21,270 --> 00:15:23,190 This is actually far from easy. 435 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:27,689 Do you know the first rule 436 00:15:27,690 --> 00:15:29,789 of space club is it don't 437 00:15:29,790 --> 00:15:31,379 talk about Space Club now. 438 00:15:31,380 --> 00:15:33,059 It's space does not cooperate. 439 00:15:34,650 --> 00:15:35,999 We learned this from Mark Watney, 440 00:15:37,830 --> 00:15:40,859 meaning if you do anything with space, 441 00:15:40,860 --> 00:15:43,619 better know really what you're doing. 442 00:15:43,620 --> 00:15:45,569 As a rule of thumb, you should be 443 00:15:45,570 --> 00:15:48,119 treating vacuum like a poisonous 444 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,219 gas that's about gets it right 445 00:15:50,220 --> 00:15:52,409 and then you can start building 446 00:15:52,410 --> 00:15:53,669 things. 447 00:15:53,670 --> 00:15:55,349 Actually, there's a second rule of space 448 00:15:55,350 --> 00:15:56,350 club. 449 00:15:57,790 --> 00:15:59,619 Don't talk about Space Club, no, be 450 00:15:59,620 --> 00:16:00,620 prepared 451 00:16:02,260 --> 00:16:04,299 to quote Mark Watney again. 452 00:16:04,300 --> 00:16:06,250 Yeah, exactly. 453 00:16:07,660 --> 00:16:09,729 Um, and these are just some of 454 00:16:09,730 --> 00:16:12,129 the topics you want to maybe 455 00:16:12,130 --> 00:16:14,259 think about. It's not just about should 456 00:16:14,260 --> 00:16:15,189 we go at all? 457 00:16:15,190 --> 00:16:17,169 And if how should we colonize? 458 00:16:17,170 --> 00:16:18,969 Should we send robots? 459 00:16:18,970 --> 00:16:20,169 What propulsion. 460 00:16:20,170 --> 00:16:21,429 Propulsion is the right one. 461 00:16:21,430 --> 00:16:24,009 Do we need planetary bases on the way? 462 00:16:24,010 --> 00:16:26,409 What is actually the sociological 463 00:16:26,410 --> 00:16:28,149 aspects? 464 00:16:28,150 --> 00:16:30,399 Do we get along on those spacecrafts 465 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:32,859 for many, many years in confined 466 00:16:32,860 --> 00:16:34,269 space? 467 00:16:34,270 --> 00:16:35,769 I don't know. Would my husband get on a 468 00:16:35,770 --> 00:16:37,720 spaceship with me for four years? 469 00:16:40,510 --> 00:16:42,519 So meaning you have to plan your trip 470 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:43,779 carefully. 471 00:16:43,780 --> 00:16:45,969 This is nothing new, even if you do 472 00:16:45,970 --> 00:16:48,159 something within our solar system, 473 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:50,139 you have to plan your trip carefully. 474 00:16:50,140 --> 00:16:51,669 People have done this before. 475 00:16:51,670 --> 00:16:53,739 Well, obviously, we have sent 476 00:16:53,740 --> 00:16:56,259 probes to the inner planets, 477 00:16:56,260 --> 00:16:58,389 to the outer planets before. 478 00:16:58,390 --> 00:17:00,729 And the first concepts 479 00:17:00,730 --> 00:17:03,369 date back to the beginning of the 480 00:17:03,370 --> 00:17:04,568 20th century. 481 00:17:04,569 --> 00:17:06,789 This is actually the way, for 482 00:17:06,790 --> 00:17:08,949 example, how do you how you want 483 00:17:08,950 --> 00:17:11,469 to get from Earth to Mars fuel 484 00:17:11,470 --> 00:17:13,389 efficient? It's a so-called human 485 00:17:13,390 --> 00:17:14,799 transfer orbit. 486 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:16,929 So you start from Earth, which is 487 00:17:16,930 --> 00:17:18,999 the blue planet, in the 488 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,338 position where it is, where the blue 489 00:17:21,339 --> 00:17:22,779 field circle is 490 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:25,059 shown on the slide. 491 00:17:25,060 --> 00:17:27,189 At the same time, when you start is in 492 00:17:27,190 --> 00:17:29,559 the position where the open 493 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:32,199 circle is. But by the time you have then 494 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:34,539 traversed on your home and transfer orbit 495 00:17:34,540 --> 00:17:36,939 towards the Mars orbit, 496 00:17:36,940 --> 00:17:38,739 Mars would be in the right position that 497 00:17:38,740 --> 00:17:41,109 you can actually just land on Mars 498 00:17:43,510 --> 00:17:46,749 if you have more time on your hands, 499 00:17:46,750 --> 00:17:48,729 if you want to use even less fuel. 500 00:17:48,730 --> 00:17:51,159 There are other options we've just seen 501 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:53,649 in the previous talk and heard about 502 00:17:53,650 --> 00:17:55,839 Rosetta and Rosetta did 503 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:58,089 several swing bias and gravity 504 00:17:58,090 --> 00:18:00,519 assisted flybys by other planetary 505 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:02,259 bodies in our solar system, 506 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:05,949 using those to then accelerate, 507 00:18:05,950 --> 00:18:07,689 get into a different direction without 508 00:18:07,690 --> 00:18:09,000 using any propulsion. 509 00:18:10,120 --> 00:18:12,429 And actually since a couple of years, 510 00:18:12,430 --> 00:18:13,599 there's another method 511 00:18:14,890 --> 00:18:16,959 which I encourage everybody 512 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:19,059 who was interested in this to just Google 513 00:18:19,060 --> 00:18:21,819 and look up. This is the interplanetary 514 00:18:21,820 --> 00:18:23,710 superhighway, as it is called. 515 00:18:25,090 --> 00:18:27,159 This is a system of how you get 516 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:29,619 from Lagrange points to other Lagrange 517 00:18:29,620 --> 00:18:31,719 points in our solar system 518 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:33,499 without any fuel. 519 00:18:33,500 --> 00:18:35,919 Essentially, you just have to get 520 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:38,229 onto those tubes, which are in 521 00:18:38,230 --> 00:18:40,599 my speech, I guess, open and close many 522 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,149 folds. I'm not a mathematician, but 523 00:18:43,150 --> 00:18:45,279 this is what you want to look 524 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:46,809 up and then you can just coast along 525 00:18:46,810 --> 00:18:49,089 these lines through our solar system. 526 00:18:49,090 --> 00:18:51,009 But normally you want it fast. 527 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:55,089 You mean like one of those space X 528 00:18:55,090 --> 00:18:56,349 rocket? 529 00:18:56,350 --> 00:18:58,899 Well, sort of. Um, so 530 00:18:58,900 --> 00:19:01,539 space X is fine for Mars? 531 00:19:01,540 --> 00:19:02,540 Definitely. 532 00:19:03,220 --> 00:19:05,769 These are chemical rockets. 533 00:19:05,770 --> 00:19:07,299 You can still tweak them a bit. 534 00:19:07,300 --> 00:19:09,399 But if you really want to go far out in 535 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:11,529 the solar system or then even talk 536 00:19:11,530 --> 00:19:13,569 about Interstellar, then you have to use 537 00:19:13,570 --> 00:19:15,579 other methods of propulsion. 538 00:19:15,580 --> 00:19:18,069 Um, let's look 539 00:19:18,070 --> 00:19:20,619 at these very crazy 540 00:19:20,620 --> 00:19:23,679 spacecrafts for interplanetary 541 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:26,079 missions which have been proposed before. 542 00:19:27,730 --> 00:19:29,919 You will see these designs 543 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:32,589 a lot. If you start looking 544 00:19:32,590 --> 00:19:33,590 into 545 00:19:34,660 --> 00:19:36,789 spacecraft design, it almost always 546 00:19:36,790 --> 00:19:37,479 looks like this. 547 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:39,609 So there is at the very front 548 00:19:40,990 --> 00:19:43,509 that is the payload, which could be 549 00:19:44,620 --> 00:19:45,759 some crew compartment. 550 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:47,469 If you want to send humans, it could be 551 00:19:47,470 --> 00:19:49,599 some cargo which you want 552 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:51,939 to send to an otter colony, 553 00:19:51,940 --> 00:19:54,039 maybe in the in the 554 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:56,439 asteroid belt or to the moons 555 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:59,499 of of Saturn. 556 00:19:59,500 --> 00:20:01,689 Um, the big thingee 557 00:20:01,690 --> 00:20:03,999 behind it, this is not wings. 558 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,249 I mean, we don't need wings in space, but 559 00:20:06,250 --> 00:20:08,349 we need to get rid of a lot 560 00:20:08,350 --> 00:20:10,569 of excess heat that gets created by our 561 00:20:10,570 --> 00:20:12,819 nuclear reactor, which is 562 00:20:12,820 --> 00:20:15,099 at the very real for a spacecraft. 563 00:20:15,100 --> 00:20:16,359 So these are radiators. 564 00:20:16,360 --> 00:20:19,210 And since space is essentially 565 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:22,839 black and really cold, I mean, it's 566 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:25,359 two point four Kelvin point 567 00:20:25,360 --> 00:20:27,489 three point five. 568 00:20:27,490 --> 00:20:28,490 She's the expert. 569 00:20:32,690 --> 00:20:34,879 Oh, we can efficiently 570 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:35,880 irradiate 571 00:20:37,700 --> 00:20:39,649 hot stuff away using a so-called 572 00:20:39,650 --> 00:20:41,809 radiators at the very end, a set that 573 00:20:41,810 --> 00:20:43,639 is a nuclear reactor. 574 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:45,379 Of course, there are some things like ion 575 00:20:45,380 --> 00:20:46,429 engines and whatnot. 576 00:20:46,430 --> 00:20:48,049 But I want to highlight one of these 577 00:20:48,050 --> 00:20:50,449 crazy ideas, and this is how the reactor 578 00:20:50,450 --> 00:20:52,339 actually looks like a sufficient fragment 579 00:20:52,340 --> 00:20:53,340 rocket engine. 580 00:20:54,530 --> 00:20:56,629 What you see is like in a in 581 00:20:56,630 --> 00:20:58,699 a in a reactor, you 582 00:20:58,700 --> 00:21:00,859 might know it has some 583 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:04,499 nuclear stuff in the middle 584 00:21:04,500 --> 00:21:05,419 here shown in green. 585 00:21:05,420 --> 00:21:07,399 And of course, there's a moderator around 586 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:09,559 it to get the neutrons to the correct 587 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:11,899 speed. What is the interesting 588 00:21:11,900 --> 00:21:14,029 part here is that you actually 589 00:21:14,030 --> 00:21:16,339 will use the propellant itself. 590 00:21:16,340 --> 00:21:18,709 So the plutonium carbide 591 00:21:18,710 --> 00:21:20,869 dust confined with 592 00:21:20,870 --> 00:21:23,479 superconducting reflector magnets 593 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:25,549 to get the efficient particles 594 00:21:25,550 --> 00:21:28,579 out and get some radiation to the 595 00:21:28,580 --> 00:21:30,169 to your back. Of course, the particles 596 00:21:30,170 --> 00:21:31,069 have to be charged for that. 597 00:21:31,070 --> 00:21:33,139 So gamma radiation will go in the other 598 00:21:33,140 --> 00:21:34,579 direction and you better have some 599 00:21:34,580 --> 00:21:35,809 shielding because otherwise you are 600 00:21:35,810 --> 00:21:36,810 frying your crew. 601 00:21:38,030 --> 00:21:39,619 The fission fragments are pretty fast. 602 00:21:39,620 --> 00:21:41,719 They go at almost two 603 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:43,819 percent, the speed of 604 00:21:43,820 --> 00:21:46,219 light. And we also get a ton of energy 605 00:21:46,220 --> 00:21:48,559 out of it to power thermo 606 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:51,679 electric generators, to have excess heat, 607 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:53,749 to get electricity on our ship. 608 00:21:53,750 --> 00:21:55,519 If you want to go to Interstellar. 609 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:57,169 This is not going to cut it. 610 00:21:57,170 --> 00:21:59,809 We have to have high specific 611 00:21:59,810 --> 00:22:01,400 impulse and high thrust. 612 00:22:02,660 --> 00:22:04,819 So we'll talk about briefly about 613 00:22:04,820 --> 00:22:06,229 Project Orion. This is a complete 614 00:22:06,230 --> 00:22:09,049 different Orion than the 615 00:22:09,050 --> 00:22:09,919 next. 616 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:11,779 This is the old project I ran out, 617 00:22:11,780 --> 00:22:12,780 Project Orion, 618 00:22:13,940 --> 00:22:15,979 not to be confused with Project Pluto. 619 00:22:15,980 --> 00:22:17,449 Don't look at Project Pluto. 620 00:22:17,450 --> 00:22:18,649 This is this is insane stuff. 621 00:22:18,650 --> 00:22:21,049 And after 10 clicks on the intercepts, 622 00:22:21,050 --> 00:22:23,269 believe me, I know what I'm talking 623 00:22:23,270 --> 00:22:24,439 about. I'm from Bielefeld. 624 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:26,749 You end up in a swamp of conspiracy 625 00:22:26,750 --> 00:22:28,129 theories. Don't go there. 626 00:22:28,130 --> 00:22:29,269 Don't. OK, 627 00:22:31,610 --> 00:22:33,889 so this is Project Orion, which 628 00:22:33,890 --> 00:22:36,229 is essentially nuke us to the stars. 629 00:22:36,230 --> 00:22:37,789 We have a payload section again at the 630 00:22:37,790 --> 00:22:39,229 very tip of the ship. 631 00:22:39,230 --> 00:22:41,899 We have a propellant magazine 632 00:22:41,900 --> 00:22:43,999 and then we have a shock absorber 633 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:45,199 at the very end. 634 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:46,969 What we do well, we take some nukes, 635 00:22:46,970 --> 00:22:49,129 which we have in our compartment, just 636 00:22:49,130 --> 00:22:51,289 throw them out of the rear, 637 00:22:51,290 --> 00:22:53,689 have to make boom and then propel 638 00:22:53,690 --> 00:22:54,690 our ship forward. 639 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:57,979 I would like to point out that this is, I 640 00:22:57,980 --> 00:22:59,929 think, the most reasonable use of nukes. 641 00:22:59,930 --> 00:23:01,999 So it would be perfect 642 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:03,559 we use of our nukes today. 643 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:11,599 Of course, you may be do not want to 644 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:13,969 have this on your surface 645 00:23:13,970 --> 00:23:15,709 body. Maybe if you want to start from 646 00:23:15,710 --> 00:23:18,469 Earth or from Moon or from Mars because, 647 00:23:18,470 --> 00:23:21,139 well, your mates who stay in the 648 00:23:21,140 --> 00:23:23,359 lunar base also will essentially be fried 649 00:23:23,360 --> 00:23:25,039 because of your nuclear explosion. 650 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:26,839 So do this in free space where there was 651 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:29,419 nobody else and see that there's nobody 652 00:23:29,420 --> 00:23:30,949 tailgating you or something. 653 00:23:34,010 --> 00:23:34,919 Watch out. 654 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:35,929 Are there other options? 655 00:23:35,930 --> 00:23:37,909 Yes, there are other options and said 656 00:23:37,910 --> 00:23:39,619 there are these ion engines, which are 657 00:23:39,620 --> 00:23:41,929 very nice engines, they are being flown 658 00:23:41,930 --> 00:23:44,059 on spacecrafts right now that 659 00:23:44,060 --> 00:23:47,029 you use an electric field to accelerate 660 00:23:47,030 --> 00:23:48,319 ions. 661 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:50,419 It's only a tiny bit of thrust, but 662 00:23:50,420 --> 00:23:51,649 it's very, very efficient. 663 00:23:51,650 --> 00:23:53,359 And if you have a long mission duration 664 00:23:53,360 --> 00:23:55,219 and you can just I mean, a rocket, for 665 00:23:55,220 --> 00:23:57,379 example, like the Saturn five, 666 00:23:57,380 --> 00:23:59,779 there's a space shuttle, they go for some 667 00:23:59,780 --> 00:24:01,549 minutes. But if you have an engine that 668 00:24:01,550 --> 00:24:03,859 can just power you 669 00:24:03,860 --> 00:24:05,989 your craft for four years, you 670 00:24:05,990 --> 00:24:08,210 will get faster in the end 671 00:24:09,380 --> 00:24:10,459 about laser propulsion. 672 00:24:10,460 --> 00:24:13,219 We will talk in the next talk 673 00:24:13,220 --> 00:24:14,479 at the very beginning. 674 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:16,579 And all the other things will not 675 00:24:16,580 --> 00:24:18,739 talk about because as I said, you get 676 00:24:18,740 --> 00:24:21,259 into a swamp of conspiracy really 677 00:24:21,260 --> 00:24:22,429 fast. 678 00:24:22,430 --> 00:24:24,199 Don't look at them drives. 679 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:25,249 Just don't do it. OK, 680 00:24:26,390 --> 00:24:28,819 the fairy dust would actually be some of 681 00:24:28,820 --> 00:24:29,779 the torch ships. 682 00:24:29,780 --> 00:24:32,509 Torch ships classify it as normally 683 00:24:32,510 --> 00:24:35,059 constant acceleration engines. 684 00:24:35,060 --> 00:24:36,739 And this could bring you to the stars 685 00:24:36,740 --> 00:24:38,599 pretty fast. But we have no idea 686 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:40,789 whatsoever what technology to 687 00:24:40,790 --> 00:24:43,069 use in constant acceleration drives. 688 00:24:45,050 --> 00:24:46,369 So if you're going fast, 689 00:24:47,570 --> 00:24:49,699 you have to have your shields up. 690 00:24:49,700 --> 00:24:51,859 Believe me, if you are going 691 00:24:51,860 --> 00:24:54,109 at 20 percent the speed of light in 692 00:24:54,110 --> 00:24:55,760 the end or something like that, 693 00:24:56,840 --> 00:24:58,219 you have to 694 00:24:59,660 --> 00:25:01,729 make sure that you understand that space 695 00:25:01,730 --> 00:25:04,159 is not empty. Space looks like this. 696 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:06,319 So this means there's a ton 697 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:08,239 of stuff between the stars, the 698 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:10,759 interstellar medium, its neutral 699 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,279 atoms, charged atoms, molecules, 700 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:14,280 dust. 701 00:25:15,410 --> 00:25:17,269 And if you could do a quick calculation, 702 00:25:17,270 --> 00:25:19,589 you will see that if you, for example, 703 00:25:19,590 --> 00:25:21,649 that go at a speed of 20 percent, 704 00:25:21,650 --> 00:25:23,839 the speed of light, you will erode 705 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:26,059 one centimeter of aluminum in front 706 00:25:26,060 --> 00:25:28,189 of your ship each year just 707 00:25:28,190 --> 00:25:30,439 from the interstellar dust. 708 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:32,239 So this is something you really should 709 00:25:33,350 --> 00:25:34,459 pay attention to. 710 00:25:34,460 --> 00:25:36,919 Of course, there are other things 711 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:39,139 also floating around micrometeorites, 712 00:25:39,140 --> 00:25:41,659 although they are not that frequent 713 00:25:41,660 --> 00:25:42,770 in interstellar space. 714 00:25:43,970 --> 00:25:46,879 Of course, it's also something we have 715 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:49,699 dealt with before with interplanetary 716 00:25:49,700 --> 00:25:50,700 missions, with 717 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:54,379 Earth Moon missions, with other 718 00:25:54,380 --> 00:25:55,759 things in Earth orbit. 719 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:57,199 And this is, for example, how it looks 720 00:25:57,200 --> 00:25:59,329 like this is a famous so-called wippel 721 00:25:59,330 --> 00:26:01,399 sheet on the 722 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:04,039 on the left. So you essentially have a 723 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:05,659 sheet of metal in front of it, which 724 00:26:05,660 --> 00:26:08,299 absorbs the first impact. 725 00:26:08,300 --> 00:26:10,459 And then you just have a spray of debris 726 00:26:10,460 --> 00:26:12,409 from your impactor on your actual 727 00:26:12,410 --> 00:26:14,359 spacecraft. Or you could do something 728 00:26:14,360 --> 00:26:16,789 like metal forms or something. 729 00:26:16,790 --> 00:26:19,549 This is actual research being done 730 00:26:19,550 --> 00:26:21,799 right now. So, yeah, we are preparing 731 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:22,800 for that. 732 00:26:23,540 --> 00:26:25,609 But of course we want to have really 733 00:26:25,610 --> 00:26:27,349 nice things maybe. 734 00:26:27,350 --> 00:26:30,019 And then yeah, it's BYOB, 735 00:26:30,020 --> 00:26:32,149 bring your own magnetosphere or 736 00:26:32,150 --> 00:26:34,399 forcefield and 737 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:36,439 yeah, if you, for example, just put a 738 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:38,719 magnetic field around your ship, you 739 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:40,819 could collect plasma on the 740 00:26:40,820 --> 00:26:43,249 way, have a nice plasma in front of you, 741 00:26:43,250 --> 00:26:45,259 and that would lead to having a nice 742 00:26:45,260 --> 00:26:46,819 magnetosphere around your ship which 743 00:26:46,820 --> 00:26:48,859 would then deflect charged particles. 744 00:26:50,360 --> 00:26:52,429 Never forget what is behind you 745 00:26:52,430 --> 00:26:54,199 because your own reactor is trying to 746 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:55,459 kill you all the time. 747 00:26:58,220 --> 00:27:00,349 And that's actually why this thing 748 00:27:00,350 --> 00:27:01,609 has this weird shape. 749 00:27:01,610 --> 00:27:03,439 This is not because the artist thought 750 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:06,379 this looks nice. No, because this is 751 00:27:06,380 --> 00:27:07,579 the deadly radiation. 752 00:27:07,580 --> 00:27:09,679 And actually, well, it's a it's a 753 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:10,680 cone around your ship. 754 00:27:11,540 --> 00:27:13,639 So when you turn your ship over, because 755 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:15,529 we have accelerated for 20 years in the 756 00:27:15,530 --> 00:27:17,149 one direction and you turn it over at the 757 00:27:17,150 --> 00:27:18,559 middle of the trip, accelerate in the 758 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:21,439 other direction because you want to 759 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:22,639 decelerate. 760 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:24,919 Well, there should be nobody sitting 761 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:27,139 in front of you because 762 00:27:27,140 --> 00:27:28,910 you're pointing in that direction. 763 00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:31,639 The particles are still fine. 764 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:33,919 You will not get your own particles, 765 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:35,839 but everybody is in front of you will 766 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:37,489 then get the full radioactive blast. 767 00:27:37,490 --> 00:27:39,559 So maybe point your ship slightly off 768 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:40,809 of the planet you want to land on. 769 00:27:40,810 --> 00:27:41,719 Yeah, maybe. 770 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:42,720 Yeah. 771 00:27:44,420 --> 00:27:46,519 So still with all 772 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:48,679 of this is the only option of going 773 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,139 really fast are so-called 774 00:27:51,140 --> 00:27:54,259 torch ships constant acceleration drives 775 00:27:54,260 --> 00:27:56,329 which could bring us to Proxima Centauri 776 00:27:56,330 --> 00:27:57,630 in about OK, 777 00:27:59,990 --> 00:28:02,059 seven to eight ship time. 778 00:28:02,060 --> 00:28:03,710 Earth time would be about 10 years 779 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:06,379 because relativistic effects will then 780 00:28:06,380 --> 00:28:08,239 come into play anyway. 781 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:09,709 It will take long. 782 00:28:09,710 --> 00:28:11,569 It will take so long that you better take 783 00:28:11,570 --> 00:28:12,799 a nap during the voyage. 784 00:28:13,850 --> 00:28:16,129 And this might seem a bit like 785 00:28:16,130 --> 00:28:18,319 science fiction, but actually this is 786 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:21,139 research that is being done by 787 00:28:21,140 --> 00:28:23,119 medical researchers 788 00:28:24,350 --> 00:28:26,899 at NASA. It's private companies 789 00:28:26,900 --> 00:28:29,059 right now and these are these 790 00:28:29,060 --> 00:28:31,129 artists impression hibernation 791 00:28:31,130 --> 00:28:32,539 could be an option. 792 00:28:32,540 --> 00:28:33,509 It's not. 793 00:28:33,510 --> 00:28:35,549 Routinely used for people who have had 794 00:28:35,550 --> 00:28:37,319 severe accidents, you just cool the 795 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:39,509 people down and actually if you, for 796 00:28:39,510 --> 00:28:41,249 example, cool down your body temperature 797 00:28:41,250 --> 00:28:43,319 from 37 degrees Celsius to 798 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:45,419 32 degrees Celsius, you're reducing your 799 00:28:45,420 --> 00:28:47,609 metabolic rate by 70 percent. 800 00:28:47,610 --> 00:28:49,829 And this means, well, you don't have to 801 00:28:49,830 --> 00:28:52,409 bring a lot of 802 00:28:52,410 --> 00:28:54,629 water, food, water, food, 803 00:28:54,630 --> 00:28:56,310 oxygen on your ship. 804 00:28:58,380 --> 00:28:59,970 Um, last thing. 805 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:03,839 No, this is not space. 806 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:05,669 Sorry, this is not an option. 807 00:29:05,670 --> 00:29:07,739 This is no option at all in 808 00:29:07,740 --> 00:29:10,019 space. There are so many things 809 00:29:10,020 --> 00:29:12,539 which have to work over a so 810 00:29:12,540 --> 00:29:14,639 long period of time that we actually, for 811 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:16,319 some of those have no idea how to 812 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:17,320 accomplish this. 813 00:29:18,710 --> 00:29:21,409 We're talking about trip times of around 814 00:29:21,410 --> 00:29:23,549 100 years, maybe so 815 00:29:23,550 --> 00:29:25,609 I have not seen a computer that 816 00:29:25,610 --> 00:29:27,410 has worked continuously for 100 hundred 817 00:29:27,411 --> 00:29:29,959 years, neither a propulsion 818 00:29:29,960 --> 00:29:31,319 system, electronic system. 819 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:33,379 So if you have such a ship, 820 00:29:33,380 --> 00:29:35,449 you better bring all the spare parts 821 00:29:35,450 --> 00:29:37,729 and you have two ships or you have 822 00:29:37,730 --> 00:29:39,949 maybe capabilities on board 823 00:29:39,950 --> 00:29:42,109 to do this, like 824 00:29:42,110 --> 00:29:44,239 mining asteroids to get new parts 825 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:46,429 for your shield, which has eroded away. 826 00:29:46,430 --> 00:29:48,679 Maybe that, um, 827 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:51,079 but this is not to scare you away. 828 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:52,699 This is just the challenges. 829 00:29:52,700 --> 00:29:54,589 I mean, we have we have done other 830 00:29:54,590 --> 00:29:56,689 things. Mankind has landed people on 831 00:29:56,690 --> 00:29:57,679 the moon. 832 00:29:57,680 --> 00:29:59,869 Soon there will be Mars. 833 00:29:59,870 --> 00:30:01,999 And please keep in mind, 834 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:04,939 there's is a very famous quote by 835 00:30:04,940 --> 00:30:07,669 the father of rocketry, 836 00:30:07,670 --> 00:30:09,979 Ziolkowski, and this is the Earth. 837 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:13,489 Is the cradle of humanity, but no one. 838 00:30:14,970 --> 00:30:16,649 Lives in a cradle forever. 839 00:30:16,650 --> 00:30:18,809 So at some 840 00:30:18,810 --> 00:30:20,789 point we'll get out there. 841 00:30:20,790 --> 00:30:21,809 The question is when? 842 00:30:21,810 --> 00:30:24,389 But there's a lot of stuff to do and 843 00:30:24,390 --> 00:30:26,549 you're all invited to take part in 844 00:30:26,550 --> 00:30:27,630 it. Thank you. 845 00:30:40,630 --> 00:30:42,819 We have some time for questions 846 00:30:42,820 --> 00:30:45,459 left, so please go to the microphones 847 00:30:45,460 --> 00:30:47,589 if you have a question and remember 848 00:30:47,590 --> 00:30:49,809 to keep it as brief as possible. 849 00:30:49,810 --> 00:30:51,279 Signal Angel, please give us the 850 00:30:51,280 --> 00:30:52,280 questions from the Internet. 851 00:30:53,620 --> 00:30:56,289 That's one question from the Internet 852 00:30:56,290 --> 00:30:58,029 if you assume 853 00:30:59,830 --> 00:31:01,929 Emtriva will work and will 854 00:31:01,930 --> 00:31:03,729 have usable thrust. 855 00:31:03,730 --> 00:31:06,129 How would that change the space travel? 856 00:31:06,130 --> 00:31:08,319 Could we start could be shot 857 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:10,449 in the path instead of relying 858 00:31:10,450 --> 00:31:12,099 on parabolas? 859 00:31:12,100 --> 00:31:13,299 Good question. Next question. 860 00:31:13,300 --> 00:31:14,300 Microphone one. 861 00:31:16,660 --> 00:31:18,639 If we have magic, then everything is 862 00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:19,640 fine. Yes. 863 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:21,999 I have a question that has always 864 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:23,289 bothered me with space travel. 865 00:31:23,290 --> 00:31:25,329 And that's basically what's the rationale 866 00:31:25,330 --> 00:31:27,399 behind aiming for a foreign 867 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:29,649 and faraway planet that right 868 00:31:29,650 --> 00:31:31,719 now is basically an utter wasteland 869 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:33,339 and hostile wasteland. 870 00:31:33,340 --> 00:31:35,419 And instead of finally 871 00:31:35,420 --> 00:31:38,619 getting our shit together as a species 872 00:31:38,620 --> 00:31:40,779 like surviving on the planet that we were 873 00:31:40,780 --> 00:31:44,019 literally, literally made for by nature, 874 00:31:44,020 --> 00:31:46,389 why should we survive when any, 875 00:31:46,390 --> 00:31:48,579 like natural wasteland if we 876 00:31:48,580 --> 00:31:49,989 can do it here? 877 00:31:49,990 --> 00:31:52,239 Well, if you remember 878 00:31:52,240 --> 00:31:54,369 earlier, there was 879 00:31:54,370 --> 00:31:56,019 the problem that our sun is eventually 880 00:31:56,020 --> 00:31:57,849 going to expand and consume the Earth. 881 00:31:57,850 --> 00:31:59,919 Yeah, but that's like we are far, 882 00:31:59,920 --> 00:32:00,999 far away. 883 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:02,859 Yes. I'm not advocating for us not 884 00:32:02,860 --> 00:32:03,789 getting our shit together. 885 00:32:03,790 --> 00:32:05,109 We should definitely do that. 886 00:32:06,370 --> 00:32:08,709 But in the very long term, human space 887 00:32:08,710 --> 00:32:10,749 exploration is a necessity. 888 00:32:10,750 --> 00:32:12,819 And so we should always keep 889 00:32:12,820 --> 00:32:15,309 our eyes on the future of our species 890 00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:18,729 in general. 891 00:32:18,730 --> 00:32:19,730 So we're not. 892 00:32:23,620 --> 00:32:24,969 One last question. 893 00:32:24,970 --> 00:32:27,249 Microphone four, please think 894 00:32:27,250 --> 00:32:29,349 again, you think the alcubierre drive 895 00:32:29,350 --> 00:32:30,519 will change everything? 896 00:32:31,540 --> 00:32:33,879 Well, it's a nice mathematical concept, 897 00:32:33,880 --> 00:32:36,669 but the 898 00:32:36,670 --> 00:32:39,939 the stuff you need to make it real is 899 00:32:39,940 --> 00:32:42,459 it's not even clear if it's physics, 900 00:32:42,460 --> 00:32:43,389 physical reality. 901 00:32:43,390 --> 00:32:45,309 Yes. If we have a warp drive, it's fine. 902 00:32:45,310 --> 00:32:46,209 Yes. 903 00:32:46,210 --> 00:32:48,669 But sorry, 904 00:32:48,670 --> 00:32:50,769 it's not it's not going to 905 00:32:50,770 --> 00:32:52,779 happen within our lifetimes, I promise 906 00:32:52,780 --> 00:32:53,769 you. 907 00:32:53,770 --> 00:32:55,839 So if you manage to build a warp drive by 908 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:57,969 the end of Congress, we take zolta with 909 00:32:57,970 --> 00:32:58,970 us. 910 00:32:59,430 --> 00:33:01,989 OK, so one more thing is that 911 00:33:01,990 --> 00:33:03,519 we've planned for this space track 912 00:33:03,520 --> 00:33:05,589 speakers to congregate 913 00:33:05,590 --> 00:33:07,539 shortly after midnight at the speakers so 914 00:33:07,540 --> 00:33:09,189 far outside of Sol G. 915 00:33:09,190 --> 00:33:11,289 So if you all have more questions for us 916 00:33:11,290 --> 00:33:12,639 that you'd like to ask later, shortly 917 00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:14,459 after midnight, that's where we'll be. 918 00:33:14,460 --> 00:33:15,730 All right. Thank you. 919 00:33:22,930 --> 00:33:24,809 Thank you very much. 920 00:33:24,810 --> 00:33:27,119 So that was Liz George and Peter Bush 921 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:28,120 camp. Thanks.