Absolutely True! NASA is working on Star Trek-ish Warp Engine!

There have been teasers floating around about this for six months now, but we now know it is true: NASA has begun investigating a possible warp drive to send spaceships soaring at faster-than-light speeds. The impossible dream has now become the investigated dream.

Elon Musk of Space-X hinted a few months ago that he believed faster-than-light travel was impossible but that it might be possible to bend space in some fashion so that two distant points would effectively be much closer together. Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking have both published books that along the way attempted to simplify the concept of flexible space.

The best example I have ever heard (which originated with one of them) goes something like this: imagine our solar system as a huge piece of black rubber stretched across space. Now imagine that someone has pinched and pulled out one section of the rubber: that is what a planet or the sun looks like.

The point being: gravity already has a slight warping effect on space and time. I suppose a warp drive might artificially increase that pinching effect.

In any event, this is simply one more example of how science is finally getting around to revolutionizing human existence in the big ways that were envisioned by science fiction writers starting more than a hundred years ago. With changes like this on the horizon, there is reason to believe the current worldwide economic doldrums will pass!

To learn more details about NASA's efforts, click right here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2374671/NASA-scientists-begin-warp-speed-experiments-change-Star-Treks-science-fiction-fact.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

What can Star Trek, Star Wars and J.J. Abrams teach us about setting goals?

Time for a little change of pace and today is going to be a short blog.

Did I just hear a huge sigh of relief? :-)

I saw a news article this morning where J.J. Abrams talks about helming both the Star Trek and Star Wars blockbuster franchises. In two words: he's excited. He's thrilled at being able to mold both fictional universes into visions that make him want to see the upcoming movies. As you all know, I blog about issues that inspire, excite and fill me with optimism. And what could be more optimistic than the human race spreading into the stars (maybe in a more Trek than Wars way :-)?

Imagine that. J.J. Abrams is in control of building both his real and imagined futures. If he does his job right, not only will he be able to cram even more money into his already bursting bank accounts, he'll also be able to enjoy the fictional realities that he creates.

Some day soon, I will get into production notes about both sci-fi extravaganzas, but for today I want to ask you one thing: don't you have the same control over your future as J.J. Abrams has over his?

A few days ago, I talked about what the new tech billionaires can us teach about choosing a life's direction and succeeding. It's not crazy, it's fact. Each of us is in control of his or her future, so why not make it one that thrills you and fills you with anticipation?

Sit down today and write down your wildest, craziest dreams...the ones that excite you, that make you wish somehow, someway you could be that person, do those things. And when chills are coursing up and down your spine and a smile is pasted across your face--

Promise yourself you'll do it!

Now, write down a step you can take today to make those dreams come true. Ignore your doubts, because you can find solutions to every challenge. You can find a way to make your own perfect movie.

Do one thing today. Do it!

Tomorrow? Just one more thing.

'See you in the theaters :-)

Star Trek is getting closer....

Let's talk about space today. More importantly, let's talk about the tiny leap forward--or would that be upward--that took place on March 7th, 2013. That was the day that SpaceX's 10-story test rocket Grasshopper took it's fourth test flight, blasting 263 feet into the air, hovering for 34 seconds and then settling comfortably back to the center of its concrete launch pad in Galveston, Texas.

(Photo: curtesy of SpaceX): http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20130310

So what exactly is the big deal about all of this?

SpaceX is seeking to build the world's first reusable rocket, one that can launch spaceships into space and then settle back down to Earth, ready for a quick cleaning and maintenance before doing it all over again. But again why, you ask?

It's all about making space flight affordable. It only costs about $200,000 for the fuel to launch a rocket into space. Unfortunately, the rockets capable of doing that jettison their depleted fuel sections along the way and ultimately burn up in the atmosphere on the way down. The cost of that self-sectioning rocket: 60 million dollars. To avoid that needless waste would be a collosal savings.

By perfecting this re-landing technology, SpaceX will be able to cut the cost of every trip down to mere peanuts. People would be able to launch into space at a whim, maybe to have afternoon coffee in the foyer of the new Bigelow Space Hotel or to play a round of lunar golf on Newt Gingrich's planned moon colony (he says boots on lunar soil are possible by 2020).

So what we are seeing is the systematic approach of a new space-faring future. A Star Trek universe is coming, and I for one am jumping with glee every time a new step forward is made.

If you're excited about the new futuristic technologies or are a space-tech or sci-fi/fantasy fan, drop me a note here on the blog. I'd love to follow your blog, too. Also, join me on Facebook and connect on Twitter. I'm Tim Greaton everywhere, and I'd love to make a ton of new geek friends :-)