Where is Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster with Starman?

[Hank001]

Good point! It would have sort of defeated the purpose of the test eh? Except they most likely did just that and inserted ballast since lithium batteries and same engine components do very NASTY things at absolute zero. Was wondering about this when I first heard about it.

[pjknibbs]

They supposedly had the car radio playing all the way up (although we can't verify that due to, y'know, vacuum ), and the LCD display at the front was displaying "DONT PANIC" in the shots of the car in space, so there has to still be some sort of power source aboard the thing. It would make sense to just use the original batteries, so long as you're sure they'll survive the vacuum.

As for temperature, it doesn't work that way in space, Hollywood movies notwithstanding. The only way to lose heat in space is via radiation, because there's no atmosphere for convection or conduction to work, and that's a pretty inefficient process--if you were to send a naked living person into space, well, they wouldn't be living for long, but it would take hours for the body to cool enough to freeze. Also, there's nowhere in the Solar System that gets close to absolute zero, because there's a rather large fusion reactor nearby sending heat in all directions!

[mrbadger]

. Also, there's nowhere in the Solar System that gets close to absolute zero, because there's a rather large fusion reactor nearby sending heat in all directions!

Indeed. The biggest problem faced in sending people into space is blocking all that heat radiation so they don't cook.

Oneof the componants of the Appollo Luner Landing System (I think the lander) had skin about the thickness of tin foil. Its purpose was to reflect, not retain, heat.

That's why the Appolo 13 return vehicle did freeze up when they powered it down, because they managed to prevent solar radiation from warming the interior. Had they not prevented that the spacecraft would have been unuseable.

[Hank001]

To nibbs:

That LCD? Had to be a static graphic since LCD would freeze to a blackish color. As for the radio playing? Got that right, but the whole tableau was pure PR. Really GOOD PR, but took a bit of "suspension of disbelief" for the tech savvy to buy into. Especially ones who know what conditions in space are like. Drop an LCD display from a Tesla saying "Don't Panic" into liquid nitrogen and see what it looks like when take it out. Flat bet you it will not say anything. That was tip off and unless they insulated it and as you said, supplied power then no "radio" was playing anything vacuum or no. Half the chips would fracture at that temperature. Hate to be a spoiler, but there it is.

[pjknibbs]

Again, you're talking about temperature, and I already explained that isn't actually the problem you think it is. The heat generated internally by the electrics and batteries would be more than enough to keep them warm when they can only lose heat through radiation, even if the sun weren't there warming the whole thing.

[Hank001]

Insulation again and I'm still willing to wager the LCD screen was a light panel (ie: type used external to ISS) with a clear gel over it. Yes I agree it could be done, my question is did they for a for a PR stunt since simple ballast would give the same results. I don't think so. But with Musk he might just have. Though it's a nice car, the bottom line has to be that has to be to date the WORST idea for a manned space vehicle on record. (Bet you they had solid tires or boom, boom, boom, boom).

[mrbadger]

We already know that he had some circuit boards redone to say 'made on Earth by Humans', so he obviously modded the car for space. Solid tyres are therefore a given.

[Hank001]

Thanks I didn't hear that gem. That tosses out some some of my arguments and goes back Musk. The Howard Hughes of our era. Looks like Musk's got his "Spruce Goose" off the ground. (Or in the latter case a bit higher off the water).

[philip_hughes]

I suspended my disbelief for this and enjoyed the view of the red car flying around the galaxy. I bet it can time travel too.

[Hank001]

Mayhap the good Doctor got the chameleon circuit fixed and was really in the space suit listening to jams on the radio? Now that I'll buy. Sounds like Moffit script to me. Wonder what else besides Bowie SHE was listening to? I'll save that speculation for the music forum.

Tesla and Relative Dimensions in Space?

[Morkonan]

... Also, there's nowhere in the Solar System that gets close to absolute zero, because there's a rather large fusion reactor nearby sending heat in all directions!

That depends on what you mean by "close." Remember what you wrote - There's no means for conduction. It's close to absolute zero on some places on the Moon, for instance. If someplace is in the shade, then something else aside from direct sunlight has to be keeping it above absolute zero. Even on Mercury, some of the temps get within shouting range of "close to absolute zero." Well, at least "pretty darn cold." (-180 C vs -270 C)

[Hank001]

Past reaching ab0 +/- once per equatorial orbit there's the inverse square law.

The inverse-square law, in physics, is any physical law stating that a specified physical quantity or intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source of that physical quantity. The fundamental cause for this can be understood as geometric dilution corresponding to point-source radiation into three-dimensional space.

Which translates into as far as thermal radiation is concerned much past the asteroid bet what the sun is putting out is mighty darn little. It applies to light as well but with a higher index than the light's ability to produce heat which is separate law. .

Still the void awaits and
there is naught of neither there.

[pjknibbs]

Even on Mercury, some of the temps get within shouting range of "close to absolute zero." Well, at least "pretty darn cold." (-180 C vs -270 C)

That's not close to absolute zero in my book. Heck, nitrogen isn't even liquid in such balmy conditions! I think the coldest place we detected in the universe was a nebula which was expanding so fast into space that it had cooled to around 1K, but that was light-years away.

[mrbadger]

Even the cosmic background radiation left over from the explosion at the formation of the universe hasn't cooled to absolute zero yet.

If anything does it means the literal beginning of the end of the universe.

No motion, no work/energy, no more entropy, nothing.

[Hank001]

Sorry. You're right. Here's what I'm thinking of when I read you're posts and trucked into my "Library" in a closet and dug around. "The Bible" 1971 edition "NASA STP" (Standard Test Protocols)

For purposes of engineering testing a standard temperature range of +450/-450 (F) is mandated.

They were pretty insular back then and my calculator is on this thing I'm typing on. Temp (F)-32/1.8=(C). I'm sure that "engineering pad" changed later. They always used to test for and against worse case scenarios and the rule of thumb was "from 0 to fire".
My apologies.

[Jabberwok]

A Tesla roadster drifting through space could be a cool easter egg for X4.

[pgllrdp]

along the same idea voyager 1 or any space probe would be nice.

[Morkonan]

A towel...

[Hank001]

Morkonan says:

A towel...

Always know where your towels at!