The ramblings of an addled mind.
Have you ever gone to a carnival and tried out the shooting gallery: the ones where you use a BB gun to plink over metal duckies as they swim across a shelf in the back of the booth? Even if the carney has not messed with the sights so the BB does not go where … Continue reading “Science Fiction Fact & Fancy: Navigation”
In my last post on this topic (Space Travel) I mentioned that many Sci-Fi authors borrow heavily from naval vessels and aircraft in depicting the behavior of space craft in their writing. And while this sometimes irritates me too, I encouraged authors to write what they dream; don’t pay too much attention to us hard-SciFi’ers, … Continue reading “Science Fiction Fact & Fancy: Space Propulsion-Engines”
For some weeks now I’ve been reading articles and blog posts offered up by experienced Sci-Fi authors, learned men of science and even a naval designer concerning the idea that when mankind finally sheds the shackles of planetary dependence and travels seriously in the ether, space travel, and space battles in particular, will have little … Continue reading “Science Fiction Fact & Fancy: Space Travel”
This week I will continue with my examination of space travel technology, focusing on propulsion; but this time looking at the less commonly discussed and written about technologies. Again, I remind you, reader, that I want only to help understand current theory – perhaps open some doors – not quash your imagination. Solar Sail Propulsion … Continue reading “Science Fiction Fact and Fancy: Propulsion-Exotic”
I recently post another of my Science Fiction Fact & Fancy posts that talked about the hazards of living and working in outer space – I mean, beyond the obvious, absolute vacuum thing. Today I found this trailer for a new movie about to come out called Gravity, and I thought it was worth tossing … Continue reading “Space Is a Dangerous Place – Illustration of a Point”
We often think of outer space as being a great big empty nothing littered with trillions of stars and their attendant planets. All big enough to avoid and with lots and lots of empty void between them. Other than having to traverse the vast distances, empty space offers few dangers, right? Very wrong! In this … Continue reading “Space: a Really Dangerous Place to Live”