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Arcanorum t1_j3x44eh wrote

Reply to comment by Optimal-Grass-8989 in NASA satellite discovers second Earth-sized planet in habitable zone by Tuna_Sushi

In this scenario the ship is moving at the speed of light so it is not experiencing time, just like the people inside it.

It cannot breakdown while moving at lightspeed, because no time can pass to allow failures to occur.

But matter can't actually go the speed of light, only energy can, so this is all just a fun thought exercise.

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RonBourbondi t1_j3xfz95 wrote

So at 90% of the speed of light how does one do repairs?

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Arcanorum t1_j3xgw1b wrote

In theory, exactly the same as any other spaceship.

Anyone attempting repairs is operating in the same inertial reference as the ship, so from their perspective it's no different from repairing a ship at any other speed.

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RonBourbondi t1_j3xh9ad wrote

But by the time they make the repair couldn't they have arrived?

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Arcanorum t1_j3xhstn wrote

Yes. Depending on the strength of the time dilation, a repair may not be possible to complete before the journey is over.

But anyone capable of getting a ship near lightspeed would also have the physics and math knowledge necessary to calculate their level of time dilation, so they could make logical decisions regarding necessary repairs.

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Chronic_In_somnia t1_j3zm4rc wrote

The hard part comes when you want to stop lol

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Pineapple--Depressed t1_j406org wrote

My grandpa used to always say, "it ain't the fall that kills you, it's that sudden stop at the end that gets you..." Imagine how long it would take to safely decelerate from near lightspeed.

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Optimal-Grass-8989 t1_j3x78ph wrote

That’s a long to say you’re speculating 😂

Edit: yes, I’m specifically referring to your speculating on matter going the speed of light, and yes I’m still laughing.

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Arcanorum t1_j3x8v2i wrote

Time dilation as you approach the speed of light is not speculation, it's fact. Time slows down heavily the closer you approach lightspeed and does not pass at all for anything that can actually reach it.

Any discussion of matter going the speed of light is speculation, because it is impossible in our current understanding of physics.

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