• Question: Is there enough energy in the world to move all humans from earth to out of orbit?

    Asked by bluesteak to Ed, Keith, Tish, Nicola, Rachel on 16 Mar 2013.
    • Photo: Edward Taylor

      Edward Taylor answered on 16 Mar 2013:

      Hi again Bluesteak, I remember you from the chat! Yeh I think there is enough energy in the world to move all humans into outer space, but maybe not with the kind of inefficient rockets we use today! New spaceship designs are starting to use a method where a jet plane starts by flying in the upper atmosphere like a normal plane, and then suddenly turns upwards with a little rocket boost to get into space. This would use much less fuel than the NASA type space rockets.

      But that still might be too energy hungry. The way I think it would be possible is with a huge lift going into space. I know that sounds impossible, but thats what NASA hopes to build one day with new super strong and super light materials! Check out this article

      http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2000/ast07sep_1/

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