Implications of Advanced Propulsion on Socieoeconomics and National Security

[Cerenkovman]

<p>I admit that the title is a mouthfull, but it really sums up what my question/discussion topic&nbsp;is all about.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Let's say for sake of argument that someone comes up with an alternative propulsion solution.&nbsp; This solution allows for cheap reliable transit to and around in space.&nbsp; This solution also is technologically simple to achieve.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Now here's the twist.&nbsp; What if this person wanted to basically turn this technology over to the people of the world via pdf download?&nbsp; Maybe they make a profit maybe they don't but the question is would this be a good or bad thing?&nbsp; I mean, the world could really benefit from such a thing, but on the other hand I could see it being looked upon as a national security issue.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>So let me hear your take on this hypothetical issue.&nbsp; Oh, and if this is in the wrong place please move it along to its proper location.&nbsp; Thanks.<img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

 

[vogon13]

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Major change to how the world works, that's for sure.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>From buzzing&nbsp; Area 51 to dropping piggy poo on Mecca, folks are going to be causing all kinds of problems.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[nimbus]

Is this propulsion strictly for space, or does it work down here on earth too? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Cerenkovman]

The idea is that it gets you from here to there, so yes it should work here too.

 

[secondAttempt]

So anybody with the ability to read a pdf file could nudge a small&nbsp;asteroid on to&nbsp;a (insert your least favorite city)-crossing trajectory?

 

[Cerenkovman]

So I'm guessing your leaning toward...bad idea?

 

[kelvinzero]

<p>You would not need to go get an asteroid to have a very powerful terroist weapon.</p><p>The us navy was recently&nbsp;quite proud of its prototype rail gun that could get a few pounds up to about 2(.4)km/s. That is&nbsp;in a straight line and requires a huge power supply.&nbsp;</p><p>Imagine car-massed guided missiles that could trivially achieve 8km/s, buildable from plans downloaded from the internet. 4 times faster means 16 times more energy per pound remember.</p><p>HOWEVER,</p><p>If such technology existed, the world governments would probably exploit it much faster.&nbsp;Interceptor missiles using the same technology but with much better performance than can be achieved by the hobbyist terrorist.</p><p>Over all I think we would be safer with this technology than without it. We would no doubt start colonising the solar system quite rapidly and this is the best defence about pretty much any threat we can currently imagine.</p><p>Also such a powerful device would probably be a solution to all our energy problems. No more wars over oil, no more concern over global warming</p>

 

[a_lost_packet_]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I admit that the title is a mouthfull, but it really sums up what my question/discussion topic&nbsp;is all about.&nbsp;Let's say for sake of argument that someone comes up with an alternative propulsion solution.&nbsp; This solution allows for cheap reliable transit to and around in space.&nbsp; This solution also is technologically simple to achieve.&nbsp;Now here's the twist.&nbsp; What if this person wanted to basically turn this technology over to the people of the world via pdf download?&nbsp; Maybe they make a profit maybe they don't but the question is would this be a good or bad thing?&nbsp; I mean, the world could really benefit from such a thing, but on the other hand I could see it being looked upon as a national security issue.&nbsp;So let me hear your take on this hypothetical issue.&nbsp; Oh, and if this is in the wrong place please move it along to its proper location.&nbsp; Thanks.&nbsp;&nbsp; Posted by Cerenkovman</DIV></p><p>Well, first of all you'd see a huge collective effort by governments to reign this sort of thing in.&nbsp; It would be made illegal for anyone to produce such a craft almost immediately.&nbsp; Then, they'd iron out government and civilian operations plans along with all the necessary regulations.&nbsp; I imagine this would push us closer to some sort of more cohesive "World Government" type of thing not in that they would control the actions of Nations but that they would end up playing a pivotal part in regulating, tracking and supporting space traffic.&nbsp; Since easy access to space would be a (here it comes) paradigm shift, it would radically change everyone's thinking.&nbsp; It would quickly become a huge focus.</p><p>And, that which writes the licenses gets to writes the rules.&nbsp; There'd have to be national agencies but, there'd also have to be some sort of Worldwide traffic control.&nbsp; And, that would end up being some world-regulatory body and they'd end up with a huge amount of power in their lap after awhile.&nbsp; It might end up being some permanently neutered regulatory body though.&nbsp; It's hard to tell how Nations would react to that right now. </p><p>Pure speculation, of course. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1">I put on my robe and wizard hat...</font> </div>

 

[Cerenkovman]

Interesting.&nbsp; I've been pondering this for a while and have gone both ways with it.&nbsp; Definitely would be a curious position to be in.

 

[michaelmozina]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Well, first of all you'd see a huge collective effort by governments to reign this sort of thing in.&nbsp; It would be made illegal for anyone to produce such a craft almost immediately.&nbsp; <br /> Posted by a_lost_packet_</DIV></p><p>Of course the business community would build it anyway, and if it was *really* easy to build, so would some home enthusiasts.&nbsp; I'm sure not every country would be motivated to make it "illegal", particularly countries that have inferior technologies at the moment.&nbsp; I'm sure someone would exploit the technology no matter what the major goverments tried to do. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> It seems to be a natural consequence of our points of view to assume that the whole of space is filled with electrons and flying electric ions of all kinds. - Kristian Birkeland </div>