Our tax dollars now tell us that Star Trek's "transporters" are not possible.

Jack Briggs · 02-10-2005, 02:23 PM

I can't believe that the USAF even spent $25,000 on this:

Transporters not practical.

Seth--L · 02-10-2005, 02:31 PM

Quote:

I can't believe that the USAF even spent $25,000 on this:

Kenneth · 02-10-2005, 02:38 PM

I think it's time to form my own corporation "Golden Ticket Inc" so I can study whether we can use Wonkavision to beam people across the world.

I agree the amazing part is this ONLY cost $25,000. Usually they would pony up the 7 mil a year for such a complex project

Kenneth

Dave Poehlman · 02-10-2005, 02:40 PM

Cripes! I could've told them that for half the price.

Micheal · 02-10-2005, 03:15 PM

Damn! I was really hoping to get one for my bathroom.

Oh well...

**HTF Ads**

Christ Reynolds · 02-10-2005, 03:36 PM

never thought i'd ever see a moderator start a thread with "our tax dollars..."

CJ

Ron-P · 02-10-2005, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Damn! I was really hoping to get one for my bathroom.

Imagine, I could transport crap from uranus to the bowl without even getting up outta my chair.

So our government wastes money, tell me something I don't already know.

Dan Mc · 02-10-2005, 04:00 PM

So why is this a bad thing? Like has been mentioned, this is an extremly small amount of money for the DOD. This was only a commisioned paper study to gague feasibility, it's not like they spent millions trying to build something. I hope they are investing in many other future technologies as well.

Joe Szott · 02-10-2005, 04:27 PM

$25K is a joke.

Basically, they paid a Ph.D in Physics for 3 months of time to watch Star Trek, attend geek conventions, and then spend 2 weeks phoning in an essay about a 100 reasons why this crap is obviously impossible. The guy is out there laughing in his Tron suit even as we type our responses, more power to him I say.

I'm afraid to ask how much money the govt has spent looking into "phasers", I'm sure it's a damn sight beyond $25K.

Kenneth · 02-10-2005, 04:43 PM

Quote:

I'm afraid to ask how much money the govt has spent looking into "phasers", I'm sure it's a damn sight beyond $25K.

If one were to lump "phasers" in with energy weapons then it is probably more valid research since various energy weapons are within our technological grasp currently.

Conversion of matter (transporters), faster than light travel, and anti-matter power are more of a stretch since they would rely on technologies and laws of physics we don't currently have access to (assuming they would ever be more than Sci Fi fantasies).

I find it fascinating that they gave a contract to a company with "Warp Drive" in the name. That would already seem to be a dead give away. Maybe "Federation Technologies" or "Romulan Inc" were already working on the Phaser project

Incidently, I am surprised it took them 47 pages to explain why it wasn't possible (talk about padding). Since the laws of physics standing in their way are fundamental laws you could explain it in a page