Space, to a great extent, is very much in the realm of the occult. Notwithstanding, all the scientific researches and developments, its vastness is still unfathomable now. The outer space is a zone that is even more mysterious to us. Whatever knowledge we have at present, are mostly based on indirect evidences and basis. But, they have enlightened us to a great extent about the different facets of it.

So, what is the size of the universe, or to what extent or length the outer space continues? The answer to this is simple. We do not know – or we do know that it is endless. We are also unaware of its age or for who long it has been in existence. Apart from the ‘milky way’, there are uncountable numbers of other galaxies. They also contain the black holes and supernovas as well.

The Big Bang Theory

big bang theory

The ‘Big Bang Theory’ tries to raise the curtain on some of the issues, relating to the beginning of the universe. Researches point that the universe in fact, had an origin. The universe is believed to have been formed from ‘Singularity’ around 1.7 billion year ago. The singularity is believed to be the where all the matter and energy of the whole of universe were concentrated, which is somewhat akin to the dark hole. Its size was miniscule, may be a dot, and the density of it was so high that they defied the natural laws of physics of which we know of now. The singularity, which was infinitely hot in the beginning, exploded and then began to cool. With the cooling, it began to expand and ultimately attained the present state. And the cooling is believed to be still going on and so is the expansion. But it can expand itself up to the limit of its own matter – the matter and energy it contained originally. Scientists postulate that a state might come, when it would split. But, we never know for sure.

But, we have no idea what existed before the big bang and the explosion that we talk of, in fact, could be an expansion.

Then, what is there in the outer space? Our knowledge base can only grapple for an answer – unsuccessfully though. At this point, we look for something or somebody, who created all these. This is a point, where science and some divine power come face to face. But then, we can only look at the later for some answers.

The concept of space worm holes, rather than its existence was first postulated by Einstein that tells us about the possibilities of traveling through space that would be virtually impossible in the complete life-span of a human being. In short, it is a hypothetical feature that allows ‘time travel’ through it.

Features of worm holes

The existence of worm holes have been explained by the famous theory called ‘The Theory of Relativity’ by Einstein, who said that massive celestial bodies can change both space and time. The physical shape and size of worm holes is still in the realm of unknown. The concept of wormhole can easily be understood by imaging two mouths with a common throat. In fact, the name worm hole is coined from the analogy that a worm by burrowing a hole through an apple along its tapered end on both sides, would reach much quicker than the time it would take by covering the much longer distance through the circumference.

Similarly, the worm holes connect different locations of the universe and through them matter can pass through much faster than the speed of light.

The space worm holes not only connect different regions within a single galaxy, they also connect different parallel galaxies. Such types of inter-universe wormholes are called Schwarzschild worm holes.

Time travel

The theory of relativity says that the distance and time is dependant upon the motion. So, if an astronaut in a spacecraft moves faster than the speed of light into the space and returns after, say a year, by that time a considerable time ( may be some centuries) might have elapsed by then. So, when you cover distance at a considerably less time, you would go beyond the effect of aging. In other words, by time travel or by moving to space at far greater speed than light would, you wouldn’t get old. Although it may sound unbelievable, ‘The Theory of Relativity’, as postulated by Einstein, clearly explains this.

The path through which matters move inside a worm hole are called ‘closed time curve’ as time is thought to be closed, while traveling inside them. Such worm holes are known as ‘time holes.’

The theory of quantum gravity also has a role in ‘time travel.’ It takes into account the dispersion of radiations through the worm holes and researches are going on about its possible effects and impact on ‘time travel.’

Many people often ask that how does light travel in space without any medium. But answer is that, it doesn’t. The vacuum is the medium which permits light to travel in space. Now even the physicists also have given up the abstract idea of empty space, that is, space having no fields, whatsoever. They also have given up the conventional idea that the matter is substantially different from the fields. It is in fact, not. The math which is needed to describe the physical vacuum is exactly the same as what is needed to describe matter. Light travels faster in vacuum then in any other material.

Light is no different, it is just a property of vacuum. Just like sound is property of liquids, solids and gases. Another reasoning is that light is a type of electromagnetic radiation, which is amongst one of the four fundamental forces of nature and as such it do not require and any medium for propagation.

Light in fact has got nothing to do with space. In fact, it is the property of the electromagnetic field when it is undergoing some kind of change. This field radiates in space in all the directions from the point of origin. This field is invisible in nature and can only be felt by parties that carry some charge, whenever the field is changed. Like for example by sudden alteration of the position of the source, a kink develops in the field which propagates in the space with speed of light. Therefore, space simply acts as a passive container for the electro magnetic field, which in turn is the medium through which light propagates.

When there is no electromagnetic in space, the light will also not travel, as in the case of closed shield box. The light moves in a straight line only when it is not moving through anything at all, that is, vacuum. Whenever, the light travels through water, glass or anything else its behaviors changes. The direction of light in these cases basically changes due to two phenomenon, these are refraction and reflection. Reflection is when the light bounces off something whereas refraction is when the light one medium to another, both having different densities.

These two phenomenons’ either changes the direction of light or bend the light. Light only travels at constant speed, which we usually refer to as “speed of light”.

In the Star Trek fictional universe, sub space is a feature of space- time which facilitates faster than light transit in the form of transmission of information or interstellar travel. The Star Trek Subspace follows different laws of physics. Subspace has also been adopted and used in various series and video games like The Descent, Stargate Atlantis, Halo and Freespace.

In majority of the Star Trek series subspace is mainly used for establishing contacts with the people and places which are light years away. The physics of the Star Trek Subspace is described as infinite speed which is expressed as Warp 10, as an impossible thing, as such even the subspace communications which supposedly travel at speeds over 9.9 Warp may take weeks to reach a desired destination and are confined to region of space which was mapped previously for subspace channels. However, once the connection is established then the communications between the two points become instantaneous.

Subspace is basically a substrate within which our universe exists. A subspace filed may either be a natural or forced intrusion of this domain into our space, thus altering the behaviors of things which are in our time frame.

There are many things which support this. In “Schisms” different creatures exist in within a tertiary subspace manifold. A manifold is a term which is used to describe the form our universe takes when it is viewed from a theoretical direction, that is, a higher direction. This is also sometimes called as the “deeper level of subspace”.

Whenever our space time frame is distorted a large amount of energy is released. You can call subspace as a medium in which our space- time frame exists. The parts which are nearest are coupled tightly to our own universe. And can be thought of as being mapped to our own space-time.

Subspace is not a ‘place’ or an alternate reality or space-time frame where things go. Subspace is also not entered by a starship at warp. A ship only creates a subspace which acts like another universe very tightly coupled to our own.

Subspaces do not really need to follow the rules of relativity. These might have unique reference frame, and everything which is enclosed in a subspace field has the reference frame of the subspace.

The weakest sub space fields are just like traditional fields, like magnetic fields. They consist of associated particles, can be used for transmission, can be bound to objects etc.

Recently the Virgin boss, Sir Richard Branson has entered into an agreement with Mojave Aerospace Ventures, for around 14 million pounds which will see his company take passengers to the space, a Virgin space travel. Mojave Aerospace Ventures was setup by the Microsoft’s co –founder Paul Allen and aviation pioneer Burt Rutan. For this purpose, this British entrepreneur is having five space liners built by the expert team which made spaceship one. The California based space liner became the first privately developed carrier to go beyond 100 kilometers.

According to Richard Virgin space travel, it will cost you around one lakh pounds to go on a “Virgin Galactic” space liner and the first flight will began operating soon. He also says that if this project becomes a success, then he will soon also start orbital flights and even get a hotel up there.

This agreement allows Virgin to use Spaceship One technology. The space liner which is being built by Virgin will accommodate five passengers compared with the two passengers’ capacity offered by Spaceship One.

The vehicle will be well tested before beginning a scheduled space service. The space liner will take off from Mojave Desert which is near Los Angeles. Also the passengers will have to undergo a week’s training before they take off.

The virgin group is well known for its wide range of businesses like music, soft drinks, mobiles, holidays, cars, finance etc. However this business is completely different from the other normal ones. Thus it is more important for them to keep their reputation alive.

Virgin group also claims that its space technology, which releases a spaceship into the sun-orbit using a jet carrier aircraft, is much safer and is much environment friendly than conventional ground-launched rocket technology. Another difference is that, the parts of the space liner mainly consists of non metallic member and are light and hence require less power.

Virgin is not only the first private party which is trying to develop the concept of space travels in private sphere but also it will be the first to take passengers into space.

This space trip, which is being offered by Virgin, will be the most intense and wonderful experiences that people have ever had. Astronauts over the last many years have all returned to earth, struggling very hard to convey that enormity of what they had experienced and discovered. To be able to extend the privilege to ordinary people has been a long held ambition for Virgin, and is slowly becoming true. You won’t believe it, but till date around 200 tickets for “Virgin Galactic” are already sold.