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Post by MartinT on Jul 31, 2014 21:43:14 GMT
Does that count?  I think that'll do it  |
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Post by Chris on Aug 1, 2014 5:26:45 GMT
I much prefer piss poor badly informed opinions myself. Much better for a laugh!! Oh wait,that's me!!   Top marks Jandl100. Loads of respect for that. |
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Post by jandl100 on Aug 1, 2014 6:31:08 GMT
Well, for those that are interested ...
I did my astronomy degree at UCL (Univ College London) and then went back after a couple of years to do the post grad research.
The research was based on data obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE). It was a satellite-based telescope looking in the UV and was the first of its kind - it was rather difficult not to make new discoveries when that part of the spectrum can't be seen from the ground due to atmospheric absorption. Very exciting!
The groundstation for the telescope (where it was controlled from) was out in the desert about 30 miles from Madrid. I went there 3 times to oversee the observations IUE was doing for me - that was fun, too. 
Here's a Google pic of the groundstation ...
And here the 1970's style computer control room for the telescope and satellite ...
Here's an article on the IUE telescope ...
science.nasa.gov/missions/iue/ |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2014 6:57:53 GMT
Well, I've got a degree in astronomy and I did 3 years post grad research and published some research papers. Does that count?
But arguing about hifi cables can be fun, too.
Wow, yes  Interesting research paper. "Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence". Bones |
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Post by jandl100 on Aug 1, 2014 7:09:15 GMT
.... although, of course, none of the above makes me an expert on string theory or exo-biology! 
I'm just an interested and fairly well informed armchair amateur. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2014 7:22:26 GMT
.... although, of course, none of the above makes me an expert on string theory or exo-biology!
I'm just an interested and fairly well informed armchair amateur. Baby steps towards warp drives, transportation technology and time travel, can't be long now  |
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Post by Dave on Aug 1, 2014 7:55:33 GMT
I'm sure people also scoffed when it was first proposed that man would fly. Not in the same league of course but imagine if Kelly Johnson had been able to publish the specifications and blueprints of his Lockheed A12 design in the late 1950's which by 1962 would become the infamous SR71 Blackbird. I doubt the average man on the street would have thought it possible. |
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Post by MartinT on Aug 1, 2014 11:01:30 GMT
Have you ever stood by an SR-71, Dave? Nothing can prepare you for the size of the thing and the sheer menace of its look. Simply fantastic machine.
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Post by Dave on Aug 1, 2014 11:11:14 GMT
Yes indeed Martin and I've witnessed one in flight too, they are simply awesome. The SR71 first flew at Groom Lake in 1962 (now more widely known as Area 51 of course). Any one seeing the beast for the first time back then can be forgiven for thinking it was some alien craft, there was simply nothing else even vaguely like it flying back then. To be perfectly honest it still looks like it has come from the future, what an aircraft!
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Post by pre65 on Aug 1, 2014 11:12:28 GMT
I was at Mildenhall base when their last Blackbird departed. It was impressive enough as it flew over us, but a few minutes later it flew back over and almost above us turned upwards and went (literally) like a rocket.
I shall never forget that moment.
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Post by Dave on Aug 1, 2014 11:26:40 GMT
The SR71 is a perfect illustration of how 'form following function' can produce a thing of beauty even if its intended role is more sinister. Other good examples of this are the Northrop YB49 (the direct ancestor of the B2 stealth bomber) and the Horton brothers designs from WWII.
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Post by Chris on Aug 1, 2014 14:32:11 GMT
Fantastic. I read " The hunt for zero G" recently which tells the tale of a fella hunting down all the tech behind the propulsion systems. Needless to say he comes up against a brick wall but it does offer an interesting insight into that world. One bloke has a metal ring that he levitates on his desk using electricity...Another hints that the latest stealths MIGHT be using ion drive technology. Pretty sure that's where I read about pulse burst engines as well.
Worth a read.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2014 16:28:48 GMT
I'm sure people also scoffed when it was first proposed that man would fly. Not in the same league of course but imagine if Kelly Johnson had been able to publish the specifications and blueprints of his Lockheed A12 design in the late 1950's which by 1962 would become the infamous SR71 Blackbird. I doubt the average man on the street would have thought it possible. I can foresee a few issues with time travel.... "Time travel - from my first day in the job as a Starfleet Captain, I swore that I would never get myself caught in one of these God-forsaken paradoxes, the future is the past, the past is the future, it all gives me an headache...." - Captain Janeway Not to mention the annoying universal law that nothing can travel faster than light.... |
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Post by Dave on Aug 1, 2014 17:21:44 GMT
There are far cleverer people than you and I who are taking all this rather seriously so we will just have to sit tight and wait to see what the future brings. Of course there exists a civilisation in a tiny sector of the virtual universe who are probably spluttering into their Newcastle Brown's right now with unconstrained mirth. I bet they are dying for me to come out with the old 'alien tech' argument - Hi fellas!!!  |
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Post by MartinT on Aug 1, 2014 18:46:16 GMT
...or possibly they're currently enjoying their leg of mammoth and are shit scared that we might come along.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2014 21:25:38 GMT
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Post by Chris on Aug 1, 2014 21:29:42 GMT
Cool. I want one in a Renault 4. With a siren.
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Post by Dave on Aug 1, 2014 21:31:08 GMT
Now that's interesting, thanks for posting the link Lawrence... |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2014 21:33:25 GMT
Cool. I want one in a Renault 4. With a siren. I've no idea what 30 to 50 micronewtons translates into in horsepower, but I suspect you might struggle to get wheel-spin |
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Post by MartinT on Aug 1, 2014 21:34:51 GMT
Great new engine idea. I doubt that it really contravenes the conservation of momentum, though. More likely that they haven't properly got to grips with how it works. Or perhaps there's some chicken being overcooked a few million miles away |
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