To Mars by A-Bomb

Posted on February 05, 2010 by Documentary Log in astronomy, space

The extraordinary yet true account of a secret US government-backed attempt to build a spaceship the size of an ocean liner and send it to Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, propelled by thousands of miniature nuclear bombs.

Beginning in 1958 Project Orion ran until 1965, employing some of the best scientists in the world, including the brilliant British mathematician and physicist Freeman Dyson. "Freeman Dyson is one of the few authentic geniuses I've ever met", says Arthur C. Clarke. "Orion isn't crazy. It would work. The question isn't whether we could do it, but whether we should do it".

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posted on February 24, 2010, 07:18:53 AM
comment #3932 ricochet53

Kenneth Brower wrote about Freeman Dyson, and his son George, in a very interesting book called "The Starship and The Canoe." I read it back in the late 70's or so, but I think it is still available. Fun read.
Dyson is also very well known for his take on the levels of civilization achieved by "et's". This specualtion led to the wildly popular Ringworld series by Larry Niven. Google "Dyson spheres"

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posted on February 09, 2010, 04:19:24 PM
comment #3694 Zephaniah

STFW boys :D

http://www.youtube.com/user/HMMcHarp#grid/user/4B5A5DE7C3327E9A

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posted on February 07, 2010, 02:49:10 AM
comment #3656 Documentary Log

Thanks for letting me know. I just replaced it with a proper playlist. Feel free to watch the rest.

-Tim

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posted on February 06, 2010, 09:21:16 PM
comment #3653 ssimon

to bad this video doesn't have the end (of any kind)...

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posted on February 06, 2010, 12:50:36 PM
comment #3646 alex

what hapen...? where is the ending ?

to bad it could have been a good way to eliminate all this atomic bombs that are around the world doing just ...nothing and costing a fortune to maintain...

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posted on February 06, 2010, 08:13:00 AM
comment #3642 Torain
This is a reply to comment #3635

^^ Fail ^^ LOL

Does seem to be cut off sadly

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posted on February 06, 2010, 06:05:47 AM
comment #3641 cassius

yeah very bad editing job on this one, and no ending.
just cuts out

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posted on February 06, 2010, 12:24:34 AM
comment #3638 Rossman

Interesting subject, but youtube video cut badly, and no actual ending

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posted on February 05, 2010, 03:34:24 PM
comment #3635 MarkT

I haven't watched this yet but I want to be the first to comment.

This is going to be great... I just know it!