The Rocket-Less Future of Space Travel | What the Physics?! | NOVA | PBS

[@Kevin_Williamson]

Two big hurdles stand in the way of most advances. 1) The fact that we have created a society based on the concepts of money and profit, and that any program requires a profit to be considered. And, 2) The fact that the people most in control of advances are the greedy and wealthy. Balance sheets have more sway than what could be done to benefit mankind. Exploration is most often funded for exploitation.

[@tomrobingray]

You are obviously an antifactualist.

[@AdvantestInc]

Reusable rockets may only be the beginning, this video makes you wonder how far these innovations can take us.

[@markhodge7]

The Mars trilogy series of books, by Kim Stanley Robinson , starting with Red Mars, takes an in-depth look at space elevators. All the pros and challenges ( and possible consequences ) An excellent primer for anyone curious about colonizing Mars. A must-read whether you are into sci-fi or not.

[@qwertyuiop1st]

If we really do build a space elevator, or elevators, we should wrap a stairway with gardens around it so that someone can hike through a pleasant garden all the way to space. "a stairway to heaven".

[@CHMichael]

No . The expanse is most likely the most realistic depiction of our future.... (without the fictional drive they use)

[@johnstrick9317]

Do a story n SpinLaunch, I would like to know if that is a real possibility or a dream.

[@tedcamus3578]

Didn't Arthur C. Clarke predict "the space elevator would be built 50 years after everyone stops laughing" ?

[@oldsarj]

He did, indeed. Despite the trolls on this discussion, the concept is perfectly feasible. And once a large enough satellite is in geosynchronous orbit, the cable (manufactured at the station from asteroid material) can be lowered to Earth and the elevators powered by unlimited solar energy. This will open up asteroid mining and the world's first trillionaire fortunes. The kicker is the initial cost. Send the bill to Elon!

[@FentonFromTrenton320]

Seems counter-intuitive. It would take many rocket flights into space to set this up. Too dangerous to utilize from several miles in the atmosphere then into the vacuum of space. The risks would propably outweigh the benefits.

[@coolcut55]

Have look at Elon musk renewable rocket? It can be much ceaper then think.

[@Tommy-Tom-Tom]

C'mon PBS. This one was a throwaway at best. If you don't have the time to research and edit a story to make it more thorough, it's better to keep it in the tank until you do.

[@richardgrabert8248]

Agreed. Very poor.

[@paulcooper8818]

Nope

[@holleyosteen6521]

Yall got wild imaginations! SCIENCE FICTION is what all this is. Nobody is going to Mars or the moon for that matter 😂

[@danielprimern932]

Yeah! You're right, man. Especially since we have a perfectly good flat earth, right? Dumb*ss.

[@MakeCommonSenseCommonAgain]

When the first airplanes were made, people never knew that air travel would be as it is today. Going to Mars is no different, people laugh and criticize now, while the upcoming generations will see going to Mars as an extended version of air flight that we do today

[@MakeCommonSenseCommonAgain]

And no there is no dome either, and the van allen belt isn't an issue, if that's what you're thinking