Why build a large spaceship when a small one will do?
If I am aiming for a space victory, why should I build a large spaceship when I can build a small one instead? A small spaceship has three advantages over a large spaceship:
- It takes less time to build.
- It takes less resources to build.
- It has a shorter travel time to Alpha Centauri.
This is a large spaceship:
Why should I build a large spaceship when the small spaceship below requires less resources to build, and has a shorter travel time?
Pictures about "Why build a large spaceship when a small one will do?"
What is the most efficient shape for a spacecraft?
In terms of available interior space, material and radiant heat loss, a sphere is the most efficient form. A saucer shape might be a useful approximation for craft that need to enter an atmosphere, and could be designed as a docked part of a spherical ship.Why are spaceships so big?
Mainly because you need a lot of speed to go into space, and to each that speed, you need to accelerate. If you need a high speed, you will need to accelerate for a long time, thus the need for a large quantity of fuel.How big should a spacecraft be?
Assuming the ship were designed to generate artificial gravity by centripetal force (i.e. a rotating cylinder) the would need be a minimum of about 224 meters (735 feet) in radius and 320 meters (1,050 feet) in length.What If All People Shared One Space Ship
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Kelly L, Kelly L, Maria Orlova, Tatiana Syrikova