One of my favorite books is James Burke’s The Day the Universe Changed, which looks at the effects that certain changes in prevailing thoughts, and a few inventions, had on society as a whole. It is amazing what changes can be effected with small shifts in thought and deed.
In a similar fashion, it can take some innovative thinking to take our mechanical monstrosities to their next level. Lately I’ve been deriding Sci-Fi writers who take the “because I say so” approach to technology in their novels. I admit to being something of a ‘wet blanket’, as Greta playfully put it. At least, I hope she was being playful!
Now that I’ve examined a whole host of the challenges that will need to be met in order for humankind to go frolicking about in deep space, let’s take a look at what we will have to do to meet those challenges. To attack this subject head-on regarding space travel, would involve a huge, stinking, pile of speculation about what we might know and what we might have at our disposal in another hundred years.
We do have some inklings of what might be possible through research channels. But most of the cutting edge stuff is being done by the government in the form or weapons research or reverse engineering alien spacecraft; and governments, especially the American government, are notoriously tight lipped about such research. It isn’t until new technologies show up in our consumer products that we are clued in that they exist. And they will never admit that velcro was a Vulcan invention.
So let’s step aside and take a look backwards. The video below is a fascinating look at key developments that helped aircraft manufacturers meet the challenges put before them and create bigger, more powerful, longer ranged, safer airplanes. You will see that rarely is taking the next step simply a matter of bolting on another engine.
Before we begin, comments in one of my postings concerned the advances in materials, and how we would not have supersonic aircraft today if they never got out of the varnished canvas over wood frames stage. Sometimes advances come with a major leap in design or material usage. Sometimes it’s a simple thing no one thought of – such as Howard Hughes deciding to grind down the rivet heads that held the skin to his racing planes to get an amazing boost in speed by reducing drag. Seems simple now, but it was revolutionary then.
As we pine for the depth of space, we need to realize that getting there is not as simple as strapping rockets to an aircraft and blasting off to another planet. As sci-fi writers, we should be thinking not of a space shuttle on steroids, or ocean vessels in space, but of what might actually meet the challenges that we’ll face out there. We will have to invent that technology, to be sure, but if we keep it as close to known facts as possible then we may just find ourselves rubbing shoulders with the likes of A.C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein (metaphorically speaking).
(Note: the newer, 6 engine, Antonov 225 is even bigger than its little brother 224)
Similar Programs:
- Cruise Ships: In making passenger ships bigger, faster and more opulent, what challenges did designers face and how were they overcome?
- Submarines: What is involved in taking a sealed environment under the waves and making it increasingly larger and more powerful?
- Trains: Making trains bigger and faster hold challenges as well.
- Aircraft Carriers: A sea-going airport, how to make it work and keep such a huge crew safe and happy.
- Space Stations: The evolution of space stations culminating in the ISS.
- Modern Marvels: Extreme Aircraft Cutting edge aircraft and elements of what makes them special. Showcases the F35.
- Hitlers Stealth Fighter The weapon that almost changed the outcome of WWII.
- Japan’s Submarine Aircraft Carrier During WWII, Japan deployed two stealth submarines designed to carry aircraft
Fascinating program. I do have to wonder, though, about the Galaxy. The point is made about not opening the cargo doors in flight. But in fact that was done lots of times – albeit for paratroopers. Interesting.
Of course, this program is about atmospheric flight, which has its own problems that space travel does not have. I think new technology will use carbon fibre and different engines that don’t use rockets. And nanotechnology and tiny computers. ‘Smart’ materials are sure to be involved.
And yes, I was kidding about the ‘wet blanket’. It’s good to look at the facts.
Yes indeed, The C130 Hercules and the C5 Galaxy were both designed to make air drops and did so many, many times. But they had to be designed to do so. Just putting a big door in the back of a regular air frame would have caused it to collapse in flight. A different approach was needed.
Yes, I chose this program because it illustrates well the way things evolve. Applying the same thoughts to space travel is left to the reader. And I agree: we will not get to the stars with rockets, aluminum and silicon CPUs. If our space program now is the canvas-on-wood biplane step, what will it look like when we get to the Antononv stage? Compare a Sopwith Camel to an F35 Stealth Fighter. Not just the shape and design but the systems. That’s 200 years of advances, what will the next 200 years bring? It will certainly involve some amazing new materials and techniques. And we will probably be leaping off of this rock and out into our solar system at least.
Thank you for your input Greta, it is much appreciated.