Observe the Universe from Deep Space [NIAC 2023]

This is the first part of my interview with Dr Christopher Morrison. In this one, we're discussing the concept of a propulsion system that should allow things like catching up with an interstellar visitor or delivering a telescope to the outer part of the Solar System.

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👉 Previous Interview with Dr Chris Morrison:

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00:00 Intro
01:16 Intersecting interstellar objects
09:39 Which technical challenges are solved
17:20 Spacecraft design
20:05 Finding captured interstellar objects
28:05 One more thing
35:00 What's next

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[disinclinedto-state]

Such good audio from your interlocutor on this one! Kudos to him for incidentally making it easier on my busted old ears. :)

[serbannicolau]

Two interviews in one day! Keep them coming! It's a joy!

[alphanaut]

I love your NIAC and CubeSat interviews!

[formarosastudio]

This was amazing ! What an exciting development and loved the conversation, super techy but still tangible 🙌🏼

[johnbennett]

Fraser, you need to re-listen to his description of the telescope mission. He said going about 5 AU out of the ecliptic. You feed it back as going past Pluto. I don't know if he missed this or what, since he didn't correct you.
Great interview, but mistakes like this are easy to make during the interview. You might want to add a review step before publishing to catch things like this.

[anthemptedits]

Another interview! Exactly what I needed. Thanks Fraser!

[mitseraffej]

0:42 “ Twelve astronomical unite per year”
This is approximately 0.018% the speed of light. Fast, but still not going to cut the mustard if we want to go galavanting around the galaxy boldly going where no man has gone before.

[ronakmist]

This was awesome and I'm sure it'll spur great ideas. Looking forward to part 2!

[PetraKann]

Engineers are scientists with a design and technology emphasis which is why an engineering degree is longer than a standard science degree. Usually 4 years compared to 3 years respectively.
Engineering qualifications are amongst the most difficult and challenging for students to complete.

[joelwismer]

Absolutely excellent video Fraser ! More interviews like this one please 😊

[unvergebeneid]

Haha, when I read "fastest telescope" I thought it had a huge aperture 😅

[bernhardjordan]

That thing can be paired with the solar sail of the other niac grant from the last week?

If it's possible, how fast it can go?

[michaelkrakenshan]

Another very interesting topic and interview. Thanks !

[undertow]

The stirling converter NASA has been testing for 14 yrs seems like a great source of enough power. The heat source can be kept far away from everything using molten salts to conduct the heat to the engine.

[Djfmdotcom]

Could the James Webb telescope be tasked to take a picture of Omuamua? (Not an astronomer or astrophysicist)

[jaimeduncan]

We need numbers. For example performance vs the classic plutonium.

[PhonicallyPsychotic]

Isoformers more then meets the nuclei :P

[uuzds]

Question Spacemeister; Presuming that SpaceX's StarShip is online and fully operable in 3 or 4 yrs, It will have a Payload Capacity of 5-10 x that of the Ariane 5 that launched JWST to it's place @ L2.
So, using the weight and size limit advantages of a rocket like SS, what would your company, Cain Space Telescopes, develop as a Next Gen Space Telescope, what "mission statement" would be the goal and where would you place it ? (No worries, I'll pay for the Launch ; )

[michaelmcconnell]

This man is proposing we build a Discovery One and I'm here for it. What are the chances of including an AI on the mission? 😁

[jwwebnaut]

Exciting prospects! However, did I miss something or were safety aspects just glossed over? What happens if the start of such a rocket goes wrong or the second stage has to be exploded? Imho these issues need to be addressed before anything else.