Look at This: Side-by-Side Comparison of Humanity’s Notable Spaceships

[bananas]

I didn't realize skylon was so big.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2012/06/19/look-at-this-side-by-side-comparison-of-humanitys-notable-spaceships/



Ever wondered how the Tiangong-1 module of China’s in-progress space station measures up to, say, the International Space Station? Over at the astronomy blog Supernova Condensate, molecular astrophysicist Invader Xan has created an infographic comparing the sizes of various spacefaring vessels. It’s fun to see how different ships stack up next to each other, like the British spaceplane Skylon versus the U.S.’s recently retired spaceplane (i.e., the Space Shuttle). And Invader Xan also made a bonus image to demonstrate how our past may compare to the future, where no man has gone before.

via Boing Boing

[bananas]

1. Here's the comparison with Star Trek's Starship Enterprise

[Stargazer09]

3. I was wondering

About how Enterprise would compare to all of our ships. Wow. We have a long way to go, don't we?

[bananas]

4. 20 years and $1 Trillion.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/engineer-star-trek-enterprise-ship-could-built-20-173540774.html

Engineer: Star Trek’s Enterprise ship could be built in 20 years at a cost of $1 trillion

By Tecca | Today in Tech – Fri, May 18, 2012

Whether you're a Trekkie or not, you have to admit that there's some sense of wonder toexploring the stars and trying to find life on distant planets. Of course, the U.S.S. Enterprise is a fictional ship, but have you ever put in the thought as to what it would take to actually build it, and when we could get it done if we really put in the effort? The man behind the well-researched site buildtheenterprise.org has, and he's determined that a fully functional Enterprise is only 20 years away if we put in the effort.

Created by a systems and electrical engineer with 30 years' experience, the BuildTheEnterprise site sets out a very specific timeline for the research and construction of such a massive space-related undertaking. The first nine years are dedicated to research, component testing, and drawing up a number of possible blueprints. The following 11 years are dedicated to development, where components will be manufactured and launched into space for assembly.

<snip>

Here's the website: http://www.buildtheenterprise.org/

Here's another article:

http://www.gizmag.com/engineer-proposes-uss-enterprise/22532/

Engineer proposes $1 trillion USS Enterprise

By James Holloway

05:40 May 14, 2012

An anonymous electrical and systems engineer going only by the moniker BTE-Dan has posted surprisingly detailed plans for a full-scale, functioning Starship Enterprise that he claims could be built in 20 years. Though it may be tempting to scoff at such lofty ambition, the Build the Enterprise website (up all of one week) includes specifications, costs, mission plan and funding strategies, all suggesting that a serious amount of thought has gone into creating a real world counterpart to the icon spaceship of the TV and movie series, Star Trek.

The project appears to be born of Dan's frustration with humankind's present spacefaring efforts. Dan more or less dismisses the International Space Station for its lack of gravity and cramped quarters, describing its toilet facilities as "comical and primitive," and musing how the money may have been better spent. Dan's answer? A full-scale USS Enterprise similar in form, dissimilar in function to that of the TV and movie series; that would operate as "a spaceship, a space station and a spaceport," and be home to a thousand people.

<snip>

[hunter]

6. I like the idea of a space station you can mount more powerful engines on as technology progresses.

Build a ship capable of handling one gravity accelerations even if the first installed engines are only capable of micro-gravity accelerations.

In other words, start with ion thrusters, graduate maybe to fusion torches, and who knows what next? Star Trek impulse engines? Warp Drive?

Once we've got a sturdy ship up and outside the gravity well we might do anything.

[Stargazer09]

7. Do you ever wish...

...that our country (world) would decide that building spaceships would be a much better use of money and resources than waging wars?

I certainly do.

[Motown_Johnny]

9. It is just a life sized model

a total waste of a trillion dollars


only the spinning wheel in the central disk would have anything like gravity.

No way 1000 people could live in that thing.

[sakabatou]

10. Is that the Enterprise... B?

[Stargazer09]

2. Love it!

It's so cool to see all of these ships/stations displayed like this. Thanks for posting this picture!

[limpyhobbler]

5. that's neat

[RT Atlanta]

8. Impressive to see the scale

I think ISS is around the size of a football field

It would've been cool to see Skylab and Mir on there for comparison too.

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers!