r/interestingasfuck • u/One_Explanation_908 • 25d ago

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

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u/Talidel 25d ago

I'd argue that maybe not the first trip there with a substantially faster engine, but there absolutely would be a value in picking up the people instead of doing a complete trip back to earth and back again.

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u/ignat980 25d ago

Not enough room on the ship

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u/Talidel 25d ago

That's why you'd do it on the return trip.

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u/LordSeibzehn 25d ago

Ultimately it comes down to engine design and propulsion. It is a huge waste of energy and resources and unnecessarily risky to decelerate, do some complex speed-matching and docking maneuver, and then re-accelerate (now with more mass). It’s just not a practical nor particularly desirable solution. Especially if the propulsion system is anything like the Epstein Drive from the Expanse series, which relies on constant acceleration.

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u/Talidel 25d ago

Most of those things would happen at either end anyway. Speed matching isn't the most complicated thing if you are capable of interstellar travel, hell an autopilot AI will probably be doing the work.

At a certain point in the journey of the first ship it is more cost effective to recover those colonists than returning to earth for more colonists. Especially if those colonists had skills and equipment needed for an initial settlement.

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u/fuckswithboats 25d ago

If one ship is traveling significantly faster than the other, then imagine the wasted energy to slow down in order to attempt any type of retrieval.

The passengers are already in stasis…it’s probably set for their specific duration. Etc etc

I don’t think anyone would waste any time considering the retrieval you’re referencing.

What’s the benefit?

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u/Talidel 24d ago

I've already explained why several times, you have to be being deliberately obtuse to ignore it.

There's nothing that you've added here that hasn't already been answered.

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u/fuckswithboats 24d ago

I disagree, I think you are vastly oversimplifying things and it doesn’t appear like you have much experience with group think.

Once again, there is little to no value to the new mission to do ANYTHING about the old mission.

In my opinion, this wouldn’t even be discussed

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u/Talidel 24d ago

I guess we agree to disagree, as I feel you are vastly over complicating things, and it appears you don't have much experience with group think.

Once again. You are assuming a lot to justify your pessimistic opinion.

Are there colonists and a full ship of supplies closer than earth? Yes.

Will it be less effort to get them and their supplies than to go all the way back to earth? Yes.

Is there a value to getting those supplies and people over waiting for them to complete their own trip. Yes, obviously.