Warp Drive - The Next Super Weapon

[Allegiance86]

So Ive been keeping an eye on the news revolving around scientists working at making Warp Drive a thing and started to wonder if anyone had looked into the dangers of this sort of technology. Im sure theres all sorts of news about how the Warp Drive itself could blow up and kill everyone onboard. But I was curious about its effects on space and the planets and objects through out space.

Most of this curiousity comes from the TNG episode where its discovered Warp Drive can destabilize Space itself and make travel through those areas impossible. I was quite certain just like any other source of energy like gasoline, solar, and nuclear there would be an environmental side effect to Warp Drive. And I guessed right. This news article is a few years old but the math is sound and means Warp Drive wont be just a means of getting from point A to point B but also exploitable by anyone seeking to kill.

http://www.universetoday.com/93882/warp ... -downside/

Essentially the Warp Bubble will catch particles in space like a net as the ship travels from one point to another. And once the ship drops out of Warp those particles are released with all the energy behind them of the Warp Drive. The farther the ship travels the bigger the blast where it arrives. And according to the scientists there is no ceiling for the amount of energy released.

Im sure Corporations and groups like NASA will continue to develop and move forward with their attempts to make Warp Drive a reality. But I cant help but hope it never comes to be if this is true.

[QorDaq]

Yeah, that or transporter tech... Terrifying for use with living organisms. Heh...

maj!

[Hohndo]

Simple..small warp jumps till it's worked out so it's not lethal. Science does require experimentation.

[Allegiance86]

Simple..small warp jumps till it's worked out so it's not lethal. Science does require experimentation.

Problem isnt that the Scientists wont find a work around. But that those funding those Scientists would jump at the idea of gamma ray bursting an enemy or competitive colony into oblivion for the chance to take the resources theyre sitting on.

[Hohndo]

Simple..small warp jumps till it's worked out so it's not lethal. Science does require experimentation.

Problem isnt that the Scientists wont find a work around. But that those funding those Scientists would jump at the idea of gamma ray bursting an enemy or competitive colony into oblivion for the chance to take the resources theyre sitting on.

Well, it's probably the closest thing to Firefly Season 2 I'm get so I'll take it.

[WelshAvenger]

Well, it's probably the closest thing to Firefly Season 2 I'm get so I'll take it.

^^^Awesome!

On topic though, historically speaking, most innovation came through conflict and needing to have a bigger, better boomstick than the other guy. There will always be those willing to pervert inventions away from their original intent. In Trek, this is pretty much the whole premise behind TWOK and The Search for Spock.

As for the warp drive, it's still an experiment and as such, it may not be a successful one. NASA may decide that it's too dangerous to put into production or it simply may not work. IMHO, I hope that it does succeed because it will open the gateway for true colonisation of Mars. Instead of months travelling to the red planet, we just activate the warp drive and we're there in a couple of minutes. Assuming it's safe to use inside the gravity well of a solar system

[Husker]

The same could be have been said with nuclear technology. When its working its a good source of energy but that same technology gives you Hiroshima. Even in an accident it still gives you Chernobyl. I would be more concerned with the energy source required to run this warp drive though.

[WelshAvenger]

I would be more concerned with the energy source required to run this warp drive though.

The dilithium mines of Central Lancashire have been working overtime to supply enough for the program.

[Allegiance86]

Well, it's probably the closest thing to Firefly Season 2 I'm get so I'll take it.

^^^Awesome!

On topic though, historically speaking, most innovation came through conflict and needing to have a bigger, better boomstick than the other guy. There will always be those willing to pervert inventions away from their original intent. In Trek, this is pretty much the whole premise behind TWOK and The Search for Spock.

As for the warp drive, it's still an experiment and as such, it may not be a successful one. NASA may decide that it's too dangerous to put into production or it simply may not work. IMHO, I hope that it does succeed because it will open the gateway for true colonisation of Mars. Instead of months travelling to the red planet, we just activate the warp drive and we're there in a couple of minutes. Assuming it's safe to use inside the gravity well of a solar system

Theoretically Solar Sails would get us to Mars in a Month.

[Obscuras]

I'll admit it is a pretty scary thought. Though I suppose when you think about it almost all technology can be weaponized in some fashion. Only time will tell.....

On a slightly related note, if they ever manage to create a warp-capable ship it'd better be named Enterprise!