Science Fiction/Speculative Fiction: Extraplanetary Exploration
I've been wrestling with a different kind of imagination problem where I can't get an image of the idea or its effects on life in order to accurately describe it, not even to myself!
It has to do with motion in a vacuum. Specifically, spherical objects.
First take the Earth. Its motion is rotation (day/night cycle) with a wobble (season cycles).
As far as I know, all planets have a rotation cycle or no rotation cycle. Some planets rotate on an axis similar to Earth and yet there is at least one planet which rotates sideways (Uranus). Moons also rotate on a single axis if they are spherical. I believe it is very common in the Universe that spherical objects have one axis of rotation.
Then you have the motion of non-spherical objects in space - asteroids and comets. They 'tumble' in motion with no defined specific axis of rotation. They keep that motion until acted on by another force.
I've been trying to imagine a world which has two defined axial rotations which are as stable as Earth's single axle rotation. Like the Earth with its day/night cycle rotation but with an additional day/night - north/south rotation at the same time. I can't even imagine the motion!
What would the surface look like to a lifeform on its surface. How would it feel? Would it be dizzy? Would it develop/evolve a different body plan? Could life even evolve? How would it experience day/night cycles which I think would be more random than a set cycle.
What geological differences would occur? Would oceans exist? What would the the weather be like? Would surface gravity be affected? Would structural support need to be different?
Would it have many or fewer earthquakes and volcanoes? Would its plate structure be more or less fragmented?
Now, try to imagine a human colony ship gets stranded on such a world.
What would be their biggest challenge? Could they survive on such a world at all?
Could they build structures with designs based on physics governed by conditions on a single axial rotation world? Would humans even have personal balance or would they stumble around like drunkards?
Even normal star gazing would be affected. We are used to the same stars at roughly the same positions based on the Earth's rotational cycle. If the rotational cycle is changed in such a radical way, would humans be able to gain a common fixed reference?
Any standard navigation tools they might use would be inaccurate on such a world. There would be no magnetic north or south, stars would not be in predictable locations at night, even the star (sun) would be in a different place with no defined pattern of movement.
The planet's inner structure might be radically different. It might have two liquid cores, perhaps more? Its magnetosphere would change. It might be weaker and stronger depending on the rotational influence of each liquid core to the other at any given time.
NatGeo did a documentary video which demonstrated the effects of an Earth which slowly stops spinning. While it is interesting, it barely scratches the actuality of such a condition.
What If the Earth Stopped Spinning? - Full Documentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx_pawMRPAY
The changes the video shows depicts a slowing Earth and the effects it would have on the surface, people and animals.
This scenario I am attempting to describe is even more extreme. Yet, somewhere in the Universe such a world might naturally exist (the Universe is big - really big).
Building a science fiction story which depicts such a world and the effects on its natural evolution and its effects on a human presence would be a huge challenge but if done right, would make for a creative and very interesting read.
If any story has ever been done like this, I would really love to read it. If the author is still alive, I would be very interested in listening to them talk about their creative challenges and how they overcame the standard-view stigmata of publishers.
Since it is a SCIENCE fiction story, all conditions must be based on current science or active scientific theory. No superpowers without scientific basis, no fantasy aliens, no magic or magical creatures. I'm trying to make it as realistic as possible according to known science and current science theory.
FTL in this scenario has to be a given, as well as the technology needed to support a human colony ship. The story will start as soon as the colony ship crash lands on such a planet and there are human survivors. The ship is useless but mostly intact. The main drive and navigation parts are completely destroyed with no way to replace them.
I'm looking for science based info on conditions which would exist on such a world, up to and including possible changes in evolutionary life changes which could occur.
I'm looking for human reaction to such a world, not only physical but mental and emotional changes which are likely to occur upon encountering such radical condition changes.
Thanx for any suggestions you might have.
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