Quite a few technologies and concepts could make future travel much faster. While some are sniffing the possibility of ‘Faster than light travel (FTLT),’ some are almost ready to give real shape to their futuristic travel technologies and concepts. Here are a few of the much anticipated technologies and concepts, which could revolutionize the meaning of travel.
� The Gravity Train
Also dubbed ‘Gravity Express’ the idea was proposed by British scientist Robert Hooke in the 17th century. In a letter, he disclosed his thought of an object accelerating inside a planet to Isaac Newton. The very idea led to the birth of a new idea, a super fast transportation system-a Gravity Train.
It was discovered that if the same mechanism could be used for boring holes through the Earth, the intended Gravity Train, with lessened friction, could go between two points wherever on the Earth within forty five minutes. Most interestingly, it would require trifling fuel.
The Project: The concept behind the Gravity Train is clear-cut. The train will very much run like a roller coaster when the force of gravity will pull the train downhill till the middle. The slope will add to the speed of the train along with the high acceleration. In the next half of the journey, the inertial will be opposite to the gravity thereby making the train to decelerate. Considering the frictionless conditions, the train will reach the other end at the split second its speed reaches zero.
Downsides: The first thing that goes against the project is the extreme heat and pressure, which anything would find unable to withstand. Secondly, it’s not the kids’ job to make such huge tunnels through the earth. Finally, immense power will be needed to evacuate the air to eliminate resistance.
Although the concept Gravity Train seems to a crazy idea but we can’t totally close the eyes to it considering the future potential of the real Gravity Train.
� The Time Machine
Is it possible to build a machine that would carry a human being into the past or future? Well, the Time Machine is a fictional device for time travel that has remained in the talks in movies and novels. But now, Ronald Mallett from the University of Connecticut is asking for funding to build a Time Machine in real. A desktop-sized device is in the works that will test Mallett’s time-warping theory.
He will employ the equations based on Einstein’s relativity theories (E=mc2) to develop a Time Machine using circulating laser beams. Anyhow, he says that the feasible time travel with this method could be confirmed within ten years from now.
While many other methods have been thought of earlier too for time travel such as Black holes, Wormholes, and cosmic strings but none of them appears top be feasible, the reason being that all of these techniques require an extremely enormous amount of mass- to make the time go backwards.
Well, Mallett is quite optimistic that a real time machine that could transport a person will one day be built. Mallet was inspied by the novel The Time Machine by H.G. Wells and then he made his mind to go back in past and advice his father, who died at the age of 33, about the perils of smoking.
If Mallet succeeds in making the Time Machine, I think it would be the biggest breakthrough even accomplished by a human.
� Project Orion
Project Orion is the most improbable story of powering a spacecraft with Nuclear Energy so that man can take a quantum leap in his quest to explore the unknown space. The spacecraft is presently in the works under the eyes of United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Earlier known as Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), it will carry a crew of four to six astronauts.
The output of this nuclear powered Spacecraft is 1 Kiloton and the weight is approximately 933 kilograms, and only 2000 to 3000 such charges will be sufficient if the spacecraft has to make a roundtrip from Earth to Mars.
There are two versions of Orion in development, one for ISS and one for post-2018 lunar missions. Orion is said to take logistic flights to the International Space Station by the end of 2014 or in the beginning of 2015. It will then become a major module of missions to the Moon and Mars.
The Russian Space Program is to suffer from the making of advanced Orion as no one will need Soyuz if they will have better quality spacecrafts like Orion.
Funding problem: If Orion’s FY2008 budget is not fully funded, NASA administrator Michael Griffin foresees a launch beyond March 2015 but the International Space Station (for which Orion has to serve) is anticipated to be decommissioned in 2016.
� Astrox hypersonic Plane
Well, a two hour flight to the other side of the world might look like something from a cartoon movie or some science fiction but a plane that could really do the same is already in the works. Astrox cooperation is working on design of a hypersonic plane that will be able to travel at a speed of 25mach thereby revolutionizing the transportation industry.
The company has integrated an inward-turning scramjet engine that has no moving parts and it allows the air to enter at 2,200 MPH and mixes the fuel in very less time. The fast combustion process and no moving parts put the engine at an advantageous position over other mechanical engines. It has been tested at Mach 2 in a supersonic wind tunnel and efforts are still on to make it better.
� Virgin Galactic Spaceship
British entrepreneur Richard Branson owned passenger-carrying suborbital spaceliner is another one on the hotly anticipated list. Last year, Branson exposed the luxurious interiors concept of his Virgin Galactic Spaceship that is designed specifically for commercial space tourism.
The spacecraft is meant to seat eight people including six passengers and two pilots. A seat on the Virgin Galactic will cost $200,000 for a 2.5-hour flight aboard SpaceShipTwo. The spaceship will launch from an altitude of about 60,000 feet (18.3 kilometers), while buckled safely in seats that recline flat after reaching suborbital space and will reach a maximum altitude of at least 68 miles.
Interestingly, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have already paid £115,000 each to ensure they have a seat on the jet. Superstar Robbie Williams and William Shatner will be accompanying the couple. The names of the rest haven’t been disclosed yet. The future operational spaceflights will begin in 2009.
� Lockheed Martin’s QSST
Other than the Virgin Galactic Spaceship, the QSST or Quiet Supersonic Transport aircraft is the novel concept aircraft from Lockheed Martin that can reach supersonic speeds without those nerve shattering sonic booms. The QSST is in the works for last six years under a $25-million contract from Supersonic Aerospace International.
The 12-passenger plane is anticipated to fly at between 47,000 and 57,000 feet with a range of 4,600 miles and is designed to fly at speeds of Mach 1.6 to 1.8. Lockheed Martin’s advanced Skunk Works unit is designing the concept aircraft that would fly at 1200 mph.
The QSST is claimed to be ready for boarding by 2013. Well, such supersonic private jets could elicit a bang in luxury high-speed flight.
� Virgin Galactic and NASA’s super-speedy hypersonic flight
Virgin Galactic, the company that is working on the SpaceShipTwo, has ventured with NASA to develop hypersonic commercial transport technology. They have the plans to craft a hypersonic plane (with speeds of Mach 5+), which could take you from New York to LA in about 45 minutes. Well, the concept is not new as the space agency has already tested a scramjet that hit 7500mph.
The simple idea with the new proposed spaceplane is to have a realistic and feasible approach to the super speed. The intended spaceplane will get to 3500-mph by hovering up to 95,000 feet and higher as the air friction will be negligible at the high altitudes. The proposed spaceplane is all about making hypersonic transport technology more feasible.
� Flying Cars:
For roughly five decades, science fiction has been nerve-racking us with phantasm of in-the-air roadways and quickly choreographing sports car-like flying cars. This idea is not as wild as the Gravity Train as we have seen such concepts in the past too.
Moller’s latest SkyCar M400 is one of its kind personal vertical take off and landing (VTOL) vehicle that can cruise at a maximum speed of 375 MPH at 13,200 ft.
Well, The M-400 and many other flying car prototypes have already flown but only on a limited basis and not that much far. But the experts believe that this dream of flying cars will be a reality within 25 years or may be sooner that that.
Just imagine yourself flying over the traffic jams at a swift speed within a few years from now. But, such flying cars will be the cup of tea for uber-rich only. Do check out my list of top 10 flying cars.
Downsides: The very first question is about the safe rides in the air considering the possibilities of awful crashes in the air. Companies do need to build propellers that could safely power these flying cars.
All the above mentioned travel concepts and technologies look to be very practical and promising except the Gravity Train but if that meets realism, it would be the one of the biggest breakthroughs in the history of transportation. If this is the future of travel, where do I sign up?
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