NASA deep space exploration: Jeffrey Rusick at TEDxElonUniversity

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

Jeff Rusick currently works at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland Ohio for the NASA Radioisotope Power System program that provides advanced power generators for deep space science missions, including the Mars Science Laboratory, which landed the Curiosity rover on Mars in 2012. The Curiosity rover is powered by a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG), which provides approximately 110 Watts of power to the rover day and night, using heat from the natural decay of (Plutonium) Pu- 238. Jeff is working on an Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG), which will be 4 times more efficient than the current rover RTG for future NASA missions. He is also the NASA Product Assurance lead for the ASRG project. Jeff graduated from Miami University in 1974 with a BS in Physics and went on to Ohio State to receive his MS in Nuclear Engineering.

[ciabattalebeau]

Great information. I am glad some people are trying to figure out how we will go deeper into space!

[Dickwooten]

I think this was a GREAT talk. He was really informative.

[gravydg]

Might just be me but the problem of deep space travel seems to be 'too much energy' in the form of radiation and 'not enough energy' in the form of propulsion ...

[christinestill]

John Glenn's orbit; I was in 6th grade too. Moon launch, 22? So we saw all the historic early landmarks. (Saw Sputnik fly over age 10.

[whitenight]

It's Not If, "It's When !
I can't wait till 2020
Branch out . Incorporate Now ! offer incentives .

[normarae]

Polycarbonate has a glass transition temperature of about 147 °C (297 °F). Keeping in mind that radiation travels best in a vacuum, please explain how the sun's radiation doesn't melt the polycarbonate visor on the astronaut's helmets.

[SpaceSapian]

Radiation is not as much of a big deal as Jeffrey makes it out to be. You actually get less radiation on the surface of Mars then on the ISS. It's just that the ISS numbers were shown for only 180 days and Mars for 500 days.

[MadanChannel]

*If we cannot travel into deepspace because van allen radiation belt - dangerous particles, so why astronauts 1969-1972 has no problem with it ??*

[andylopez]

Why do the pictures of the planets always look fake???

[BMarie]

Personally I feel if we were able to master some sort of laser beam/light propulsion system, or even something like the EMDrive that uses microwaves to generate thrust, we'd be good to go for "deeper" space exploration. I can't say how far exactly or how quickly, but I do think that we shouldn't push these ideas aside, and really look into these as sources. If we could get some sort of light propulsion especially, it was drastically change the game. Light is something very easily generated, quickly replenish-able, and really help send us further into space. Of course, now comes in all the other hundreds of thousands of set backs and concerns, lol. Even if this was perfected and proven to work and get us further and faster, we'd be just getting started and no where near going. We'd first have to test a ton of research, engineering, and testing, then those would basically be sacrificed, but at least we'd then get a glimpse at what we need to do to safely proceed. What obstacles, etc.

[fknbastages]

Would freon make for a good propulsion? I know that when an air conditioner is broke open, the freon seems to take forever to empty.

[thehystericalpancake]

woud a water lock work where there is water in between space and the crew

[k.ganesanganesan]

exploration enough. stop.
collect debris.
restart with space rules.

[freespirit]

I think developing some sort of force field will be the answer. Is there a way of altering a magnetic field in ways that could deflect certain particles? Can a magnetic field be altered to control paths of particles? I feel the key is finding the particle of interest and finding ways of deflecting the particles or absorbing. If particles could be absorbed at a different part of the ship they could be discharged in a different direction. Not only if there is a way to generate some sort of field could it help protect a ship but also could be a vital tool countering a Nuclear attack reflecting particles toward space. One problem with this I feel would be the needed power source to generate the energy needed to do this.

[alecrisser]

I know what we should do to solve the problem of not enough solar power in the outer solar system; however it involves sacrificing the beautiful gas giant Jupiter, and of course its moons.  Though if we found a way to do this we could multiply the lifespan of our star.  The idea is to somehow relocate some hydrogen from the sun and place it in Jupiter until it becomes a brown dwarf.  Yeah it's impossible at the moment, but there's no reason to think that it will be in the future; as long as our civilization and its technology progresses.   Or we could harvest a sh!t load of solar power and precisely lazier it from and to satellites using the correct frequency of electromagnetic radiation.  It would be less efficient, but would work with a lot of time and power from the sun.

[cplxsapien]

തെങ്ങിന്റെ ഓല ബെസ്റ്റ് ആണ് റേഡിയേഷൻ കൊറക്കാൻ

[deckuofm]

Staying under ground can help against radiation. 1-st send self replicating machines with a couple of people to an asteroid. People can supervise machines until they build big ships with reactors and good protection against radiation. Then further travel to giant planets are possible.

[jessemorales]

you know magnetic in all planets are so different the G force and molecular are over G=30.M to M=0.00 is the same ^here earth * us vulumen .
if wee can separate vulumen G00 with M4.8 /3 wee even able to make fly cars or anything wee wan

[_Cramon]

this topic is interesting but i'm sorry i cannot listen to this guy talk. this is literally how i must looking when i speak in public bc that scares the shit out of me lol

[massimookissed]

NASA: _We need kids to teach us how to space, 'cos we spent all the money on the ISS which taught us nothing._