oh, top 5... hmmm if i had to pick. Just series, not movies 1. Cowboy Bebop 2. Stein's Gate 3. Eureka Seven 4. Gurren Lagann 5. Tiger and Bunny Oh and let me just add my special favorite: Zoids Chaotic Century. I'm not saying it's a great anime, but it will always be one of my favorites forever.
Not sure if looks awesome, or awesomely bad. The synopsis actually sounded pretty interesting, and the thing actually looked like a space ship...some potential there...hmm...
anyone know of any good sites to watch anime as a stream from, rather than dling them as a torrent? Being in Australia makes it hard to watch anime as we seem to be so far behind.
Making a ranked list for me is pretty difficult, with the exception of my all-time favorite: Planetes. It's about a team of space garbage collectors. To give you an idea of just how good it is, my favorite anime used to be Cowboy Bebop. So go watch it, because I cannot recommend it highly enough. Other notable favorites: Series: Ghost in the Shell SAC Neon Genesis Evangelion 08th MS Team Azumanga Daioh Mushishi Nichijou Rurouni Kenshin OVAs (Trust & Betrayal) FLCL Full Metal Alchemist (original) Baccano! Samurai Champloo Samurai 7 Films: Anything Miyazaki Hayao (particularly Princess Mononoke) Neon Genesis Evangelion (Death, Rebirth, End of, Rebuild 1.0 & 2.0) Ghost in the Shell (1, 2, & S.S.S.) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Summer Wars Wolf Children Ame and Yuki Sword of the Stranger Metropolis
Planetes has actually been on my "need to watch" list for some time now. I'm a bit iffy people saying they like it more than Bebop. But, it looks very interesting so I better just watch it and judge then.
Planetes was on my list as well, until this thread made me think of it the other night and led me to watch the first five episodes on Youtube. Sorry to say the main characters and writing are lousy, annoying even, which is unfortunate because they had a decent hard sci-fi concept (though the debris collection premise was pretty flimsy given the feasibility of ground-based laser brooms).
This is the first I have ever heard of laser brooms, so I did some quick research. According to the Wikipedia article I found, NASA did some research in 2011 and found that a laser broom could move a single piece of small debris (between 1 and 10 cm) 1mm per second, or up to 200m per day. It is also worth noting that the laser broom was unable to cause debris to enter the atmosphere, so it couldn't actually remove the problem, it could just move it aside temporarily. That doesn't sound very feasible to me.
There are two approaches for laser broom development, the first (and earliest) focusing on target ablation for debris de-orbit using higher-powered lasers, the second (and more recent) on debris relocation via photon momentum transfer for collision avoidance using lower-powered lasers (LightForce 2012). Both approaches can conceivably de-orbit debris over time by sufficiently decreasing its orbital velocity to lower its altitude, allowing atmospheric drag to accelerate and finish the process, however the ablation approach appeared to promise more timely results. The first approach using ablation was the laser broom concept I was referring to, though it has been sidelined primarily due to concerns over use as an anti-satellite weapon, in addition to design complexity and inherently higher costs. From the few studies I was able to find and read, next to funding, detection and tracking of <10cm debris is still the major hurdle (though not infeasible) for both approaches, adaptive optics second. Keep in mind detection and tracking would still be an issue for any other debris clearing measures. The focus on smaller debris (1 to 10 cm diameter) is due to the unrealistic shielding requirements that would be required to protect against it and the difficulties associated with detecting and tracking it over the long term. Larger debris (a derelict satellite for example) is easier to detect and track, in addition to much harder to ablate or relocate by photon pressure, and is therefore more likely to be dealt with by direct measures (ASAT missile or mini-sat interception with de-orbit thruster / sail / electrodynamic tether), which is not something likely to be done by any costly and risky manned mission (as in Planetes). In short, there are much cheaper (monetary, energy, materials, time) and safer approaches to removing orbital debris than sending a manned craft to perform difficult EVAs (astronauts allegedly hated those cumbersome MMUs anyway). Here it is, all in easy-to-read Powerpoint format (gotta love NTRS). That all said, I was willing to look past the quirky premise of Planetes just to get some hard sci-fi fanservice. Annoying characters and weak writing just got in the way.
According to that Powerpoint, the laser brooms are only effective on debris between 1 and 10 cm in size. Anything bigger or smaller requires something to physically remove them (though they offered no practical solutions for removing objects under 1 cm). The best options for large debris still require ships (and for LEO debris, would likely still require astronauts to perform EVAs to attach the tethers). And while it suggests automated ships for large GEO debris, when space is developed to the point that there are hundreds of people living and working in space at all times (not to mention thousands on the moon), manned craft is most likely simply an easier option than automated. Space debris is already becoming a problem currently, and we have barely scratched the surface of space development. Imagine how bad it would be with the amount of development present in Planetes. Debris collection and removal is probably performed with multiple approaches depending on the size of debris (kind of like what NASA suggests). And as for MMUs, the astronauts in Planetes don't have to wear those because the ability to maneuver in EVA is built into the suit.
Objects under 1 cm are generally deemed acceptable where the protection of the ISS is concerned since its whipple shielding can handle most debris that small moving at expected velocities (around 9 km/sec). Larger and more massive debris above 1 cm diameter tend to be the more pressing concern since the ISS cannot be realistically shielded against it, especially the 1 to 10 cm range debris in LEO which is difficult to detect and track over the long term, precluding the planning of collision avoidance maneuvers. That is not to say <1cm debris is not a problem, only that the risk it posses is currently manageable by shielding measures and therefore of lower priority. There is frankly very little need for humans to ever go into space given the considerable cost advantages of remote or autonomous unmanned missions. The cost often given for launching 1 pound into Earth orbit is around 10,000 USD, which has not changed much over the past few decades, and likely will not change much without development of alternative launch methods (sled launch, tether assist, launch loop). Every bit of mass you cut out of your launch system and payload leads to considerable cost savings (smaller rocket or payload means lower manufacturing cost, smaller supporting infrastructure, less reactants, and so on). Ideally, humanity will eventually reach the point at which we can utilize resources in space (near-Earth asteroid capture, moon mining) and reduce the need for Earth manufacturing and resupply, though that doesn't mean manned craft will suddenly become preferable to unmanned craft. The problem with manned-anything in space is that humans require considerably expensive attendant life support systems, consumables, room to move, machine interfaces or access, and associated flight safety ratings (major planning, design, testing, and manufacturing expense here). All this ultimately adds mass to the vehicle, which then requires substantially more reactants and more robust power systems in order to accomplish mission goals, and very well may be prohibitive for the intended mission. Culling the human cargo from the mission eliminates most of the previously mentioned requirements and greatly reduces vehicle and mission expense. On a related note, the ISS isn't so much of value as a micro-gravity experimentation platform as often totted (though that is a nice, if niche use), but rather as a test bed for various manned-vehicle systems and as an engineering, manufacturing, and operating exercise in preparation for future manned missions, to say nothing of the international cooperation and aerospace-industry benefits. We could arguably perform a lot of micro-gravity experimentation with one-off orbital missions (long duration), or even sub-orbital sounding rockets at lesser cost, the notable exception being when humans are the research subject. With regards to capture and de-orbit of larger orbital debris, as previously mentioned this is something likely to be carried out by smaller, cheaper mini-sats, either ground launched or deployed in-orbit. Once the mini-sat has completed its rendezvous with the debris and is attached, it re-orients the debris and fires ion thrusters (CleanSpace One concept) or deploys either a solar sail if in GEO (NanoSail-D for comparable example) or an electrodynamic tether if in LEO (YES1/2, MAST, or STARS for similar mini-sat concepts). Granted, of the previous examples only CleanSpace One is intended for debris rendezvous, however the examples do show the feasibility of the concept from a technology standpoint. Though potentially hundreds of these mini-sats may eventually be required, given their size and low mass it would be possible to launch many at once using smaller orbital rockets for later deployment for rendezvous, meaning the launch costs would likely be substantially lower than any manned debris removal concept, requiring constant resupply of consumables, reactants, parts, and personnel. Also worth mentioning, though not ideal, current ASAT missiles can function as an effective method of "removing" large debris, albeit only in limited circumstances at very low LEO (see Operation Burnt Frost for a poor "successful" example). Obviously the resulting debris field isn't of any help though the break-up can accelerate the decay of much of the satellite. It may be possible to design an ASAT missile with the intention of intercepting a satellite for de-orbit as opposed to obliterating it, but this is only personal speculation. GEO debris consists largely of derelict spacecraft, and given the low energy requirements for moving about GEO, a reusable spacecraft (tug) specifically designed to operate there (solar-powered with ion thruster propulsion) is ideal, however it would not likely be manned considering the time it can take to complete a slow low energy hohmann transfer and the increased cost to resupply if manned. Since more recent satellites placed at GEO (after 2002) must conserve enough reactants to boost themselves out to disposal orbit, the concern over collisions at GEO generally lies with older derelict or non-functioning satellites that might eventually drift due to perturbations or impacts. Its possible that is the case in Planetes, though I did not see mention of any other debris removal measures from the episodes I saw. Depending on how much ITO is paying for debris removal, an enterprising company could probably really clean up if they could get past whatever red tape prohibits the construction of an ablative laser broom in-setting. I'm sure I could take issue with the spacesuits in Planetes (those integrated thrusters and suit maintenance issues for one) but for the most part I'll admit they looked pretty well thought-out (requiring arm movement for thruster positioning or visor screen interface is probably not ideal considering the movement's effect on body angular momentum though). Oh hell why didn't they just use the DS-12's robotic arm for the majority of operations... /over-analysis
If you havent seen it, Sword Art Online is a great anime, and personally hits the mark with me as an X MMO player.
so yeah, Little Witch Academia is the shit. It's only 20 min and you should watch it if you get the chance.
Desperately trying to finish Fairy Tail before I ship for boot camp in December. Not looking like it's going to happen since I'm just barely halfway through. Also planning to re-watch Rurouni Kenshin after Fairy Tail. By then Attack on Titan should be finished it's second season.
Bringing this thread back to suggest everyone watch Kill La Kill. It's awesome. Also, they're making a second season of Durarara!
