@kiagam
@lemmy.worldunless the meteor is a rogue moon, the mass gained/lost is negligible compared to other particles interacting with the atmosphere or radiating (in and out), processes which are constantly happening.
for example, just the sun contributes some 200 tons every year (We also radiate out about the same mass that comes in). in 7.5 million years, that equals the asteroid that killed the dinossaurs (an event which happens way less often). So yeah, maybe the mass changes for a while, but even then, the dinossaur-killing asteroid is 0.000000000001% of earth's mass... If we had one meteor like that everyday for a billion years, we would get some 20% extra mass.
(rough numbers I calculated just know, double check please)
The propulsion technology in itself hasn't changed much, so it is not like you put a new engine and suddenly it is 3x faster. The problem is not technology, it is money. almost all the speed comes from gravity assists (get close to a moon/planet and let it accelerate you as you get closer), so to squeeze extra, you need to pass closer to more planets, which requires more fuel for the adjustments. More fuel means the probe is heavier, harder to build, etc. Maybe miniaturization of other parts makes up for that extra weight, but still, to catch up with Voyager would take decades
You are missing the point. If somebody is gonna profit in any way from US citizens, the US oligarchs want their cut. If it was about controlling information, it would specifically mention about that and what is to be done about it. Making the company be US controlled increases the reach of government on it, yes, but it doesn't gaurantee or enforce it in any way. The thing it gaurantees is where the money will end up.
If you think Ukraine is in an offensive, you are very behind on the news. Russia has been slowly pushing Ukraine on all fronts and Ukraine has gained no ground in months. anything they got was already retaken by Russia. Ukraine is on the backfoot and being beaten back even worse after the ammo shortage
if someone could actually get new information and insight under something like this, why would we use it in a prison instead of putting people to study the whole of human knowledge and create demi-god wizards?
boats are insanely efficient energy wise, and you need to build and maintain way less infrastructure for a waterway (the water is already there after all). even if you are burning fuel instead of going electric, you gain so much efficiency that it is still worth it. also, electric everything has different environmental costs
counter offer, the politicians keep pandering to the old population and keep squishing the young one, to be reassessed in 20 years