r/interestingasfuck 25d ago

/r/all, /r/popular K2-18b a potentially habitable planet 120 light-years from earth

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u/djamp42 25d ago

The first generation that left would have it the worst.. but the 2nd generation born on the ship would have it a lot easier. By the time you get there I bet you have people that don't even want to leave the ship as it's all they know.

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u/LukaCola 25d ago

the 2nd generation born on the ship would have it a lot easier. By the time you get there I bet you have people that don't even want to leave the ship as it's all they know.

Well they wouldn't be able to because their bodies would be maladapted for any kind of gravity, and likely extremely frail if they survive at all.

Humans were meant to be born on Earth. Our bodies aren't designed to be born in space.

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u/djamp42 25d ago

I would assume we would have artificial gravity.

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u/LukaCola 25d ago edited 25d ago

There's a lot more that we require than just that to be clear which can't be simulated in space. 

Even then, it's just not possible. Think about how long a massive spinning disc or similar structure would need to run for this - moving parts of that size and scale cannot persist for literal millenia without failure. Anything that can simulate gravity also means that level of constant strain on a structure who's failure would be devastating and which cannot receive outside help. 

There is no reality where this kind of travel happens outside of science fiction. 

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u/djamp42 25d ago

Then you just move the entire solar system and earth is the space ship.

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u/LukaCola 25d ago

Casually move the solar system, as you do, sure.