Project Hail Mary Discussion

[jian]

Just watched it, and it was pretty amazing and surprisingly emotional. I was very pleased with the changes from the book, both what they left out and what they put in.

I do think, given how long the mission would take, it would have been better to put in a longer timeline for the inevitable breakdown on Earth than thirty years. Maybe a century? It would have made Ryland’s reaction more understandable.

And yeah, that is not how you use a centrifuge. Basic science advisor mistake, sorry.

 

[GMMichael]

Hmm. I'd like to see the maths on how long his trip would take from Earth's perspective, assuming his ship didn't reach full light speed. Because he told the kiddies that the sun would be eaten in 30 years... and that's cutting it pretty close.

Yay, someone did it for me:


12 years to Tau Ceti and 12 years back (for the probes). One year to discover the Why, one year to implement the solution? That doesn't leave a lot of Sol after all. But it does explain why Grace had to be kidnapped.

 

[Ryujin]

Yay, someone did it for me:


12 years to Tau Ceti and 12 years back (for the probes). One year to discover the Why, one year to implement the solution? That doesn't leave a lot of Sol after all. But it does explain why Grace had to be kidnapped.

Presumably the probes that were sent back, with the information, could make the transit faster because their drive to mass ratio could be higher. They just needed to carry basic navigation and data.

 

[Stalker0]

Yay, someone did it for me:


12 years to Tau Ceti and 12 years back (for the probes). One year to discover the Why, one year to implement the solution? That doesn't leave a lot of Sol after all. But it does explain why Grace had to be kidnapped.

Yeah the coolest takeaway is.

While yes by physics the chance our "civilization" traveling to the stars is basically nill (as the ship would be seperated by 1000s if not millions of years from earth). However, single super ships that comprise its own human civilization that travel together could make it to many places in the galaxy and beyond in human lifespans. Of course, the trick as always....is energy. Definately needs fusion at a minimum, might even need antimatter type reactions to get the juice you need. But it is by physics....possible.