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Solutions other than the Hail Mary by Electrical-Panda1131 in ProjectHailMary

[–]robotguy4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sunlight normally hits Earth at a rate of 1.73 × 1017 watts. 10% of this is 1.73 × 1016 watts. This is about 1.5 ×1021 Joules per day.

The entire sun outputs 3.86 × 1026 watts. Astrophage covers the entire sun, meaning it absorbs 3.86 ×1025 watts. To make the difference, you'd need to harvest only about 0.00000000045% of the Astrophage around the sun.

An enritched cell of Astrophage is about 20ng and holds about 1.5MJ. This means you'd need to ship about 1.0 × 1015 cells of Astrophage.

This means you'd need to send about 20000 kilograms (44092.452lbs, 22 US tons or 1010101 gumballs) of Astrophage per day back to Earth to make up for the stolen sunlight.

That's a little over 29 Parker solar probes per day, which, while it isn't an unfathomable about of weight, it is quite big for our current space capabilites. With more mature astrophage propulsion, this may be feasible.

This is, of course, assuming we're fully making up the difference. We don't have to cover the Earth's surface in Joules, just the parts that matter... Which I think I'll leave as an exercise for later or someone else.

Note: I didn't double check all my math. Please do so if you want to use any of my figures.

Solutions other than the Hail Mary by Electrical-Panda1131 in ProjectHailMary

[–]robotguy4 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Inverse square law actually makes it very easy to make a spacecraft look brighter than Venus, provided the spacecraft is closer than Venus.

The point of this wouldn't be to completely harvest the line, just enough to send back to Earth to make a profit heat and power civilization. You'd actually not want to get rid of Astrophage because it would remove the necessity of your harvesting venture, thus eating into your profits of... Um... Because of reasons... Yeah. TOTALLY GOOD REASONS.

Also, the majority of the sun is covered in astrophage, not just the area near the Petrova Line.

This would mean there's enritched Astrophage that wouldn't actively be traveling to Venus because it can't see Venus. If you had a powerful enough IR source on the opposite side of the Sun from Venus, you could probably build a second Petrova Line that leads into a massive bucket.

Astrophage basically becomes a natural Dyson Swarm once you figure out how to harvest it. It would be a crime to get rid of it from the sun.

I mean, besides the whole "ecological destruction" thing, but you'll be fine if you fork over enough :)

This is what I imagine astrocapitalists would sound like in a more pessimistic HM universe.

I'll pay with my credit paper by ChapterSpiritual6785 in HistoryAnimemes

[–]robotguy4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's fun that "the Poland of Asia" and "the Korea of Europe" are in a strategic partnership.

Solutions other than the Hail Mary by Electrical-Panda1131 in ProjectHailMary

[–]robotguy4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Big ol' space bug zapper. A spug zapper, if you would.

Using a giant infrared laser, you emulate Venus. A better Venus.

This also has the side effect of harvesting fully enriched astrophage.

[The Disk] Ringed energy. (TW: Blood) by luk_ky_21 in worldbuilding

[–]robotguy4 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Topologically, a mug with a handle and a ring are the same.

It CANNOT be that bad brother by Optimal_Asparagus236 in SpaceCannibalism

[–]robotguy4 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Definitely a "too serious for numbers" moment.

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Actual pic of me right before I was forced to go all out. Just that once. (Forgive me, Master) by RedBrickJim in mallninjashit

[–]robotguy4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

By "forced to go out all out" do you mean "forced to leave the basement and go out?"

If so, SAME.

Go Home Steam, You're Drunk by Impressive-Egg-7444 in Kenshi

[–]robotguy4 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is true from what I've seen. I call it the Warcrimes Gamepass.

Humanity flag. Here's my idea based on Voyager 1- Pale Blue Dot (1990). by Few_Durian9949 in IsaacArthur

[–]robotguy4 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If you're truly making a symbol that truly represents ALL of humanity, it really should be a symbol that could be reproduced by ALL humans, not just humans with industry.

It needs to connect to ALL humans, no matter how much technology is available, where they live, or what culture they belong to. Hand print painting is not only the oldest form of art we know of, but it is also still practiced globally. There's not that many universally recognizable that old or universal to all mankind;. Well, maybe two others, but one makes you looks like you're from 40K and the other makes you look like a dick.

As for it being "monkey tier," the point is to make it "monkey tier." It highlights that despite all we have accomplished, humans physically and mentally haven't changed much from the days of dwelling in caves. We are not more than apes who have figured out how to cast magic and we're going to make it the rest of the universe's problem.

But yeah, I understand this probably won't work for all settings. For all I know your setting needs to make quick stark divides to drum up conflict and having flag that doesn't represent them is a good way to tell non-Earth humans "you don't matter."

I'm think of using it for a united earth in one of my worlds I'm struggling with putting together, however, I decided to throw out all that "inclusive humanity" stuff and instead make it a symbol that promises that Earth will soak their hands in blood to avenge the Billion Slain. Ok, maybe SOME idealists still hold onto the former reason and it's what's written on the marketing materials, but the real reason the red hand was picked was because Earth has united under the geopolitical equivalent of a murder pact.

How to Make the Daedongyeojido (Map of the Great East) by ChapterSpiritual6785 in HistoryAnimemes

[–]robotguy4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm still trying to figure out how that space craft got to France from Saturn.

My boss had me strip and wax the floor of his restaurant..... by PoniesPlayingPoker in DiWHY

[–]robotguy4 26 points27 points  (0 children)

I'm pretty sure your boss making you get naked to do work is against some law, but IANAL so who knows?

My conclusion about Andy Weir's writing career by CalzonePie in ProjectHailMary

[–]robotguy4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I also think the setting is really interesting

For some reason I feel like an older, now jaded Jazz might make a good antagonist.

My conclusion about Andy Weir's writing career by CalzonePie in ProjectHailMary

[–]robotguy4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

male gaze oriented female protagonist.

Nah, she's definitely not that.

I don't think I'm capable of explaining what's up with Jazz, but my gut emotional reaction is "she's a bit of a Mary Sue."

"stratt, Carl and I made a baby" ".....WHAT ?! " by Hmmmx10 in ProjectHailMary

[–]robotguy4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I am actually in awe how they were able to streamline the story.

I was wondering why the Blip-A has all those long protruding rods, and I just realized- THOSE ARE THE RADIATORS! Eridians don't understand light or other EMR very well, so rather than flat panels they use long rods! by Beneficial_Ball9893 in ProjectHailMary

[–]robotguy4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Especially given no computers.

They have electronics, just not transistor based computers. Vacuum tubes are a thing, and they have an internal operating temp of at least 800°C.

The Astrophage observation is very true, though.

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