Space does not contract and warp, and time is not relative
The Lorentz coordinate tranformation (LCT) transforms the coordinates on an electromagnetic (EM) wavefront, emitted by a source that is stationary within an inertial reference frame (IRF), into other IRF's relative to which the source is moving. It does not traform the coordinates of the centres-of-mass of matter-objects. The latter are tranformed by the Galilean coordinate transformation (GCT).
If a wavefront is emitted at time t by such a stationary source, this wavefront instantaneously manifests at the position of the stationary source at the time t when it is emitted.
Within another IRF in which the source is moving away from the origin of the coordinate system, the same wavefront manifests at a later time T(+)>t. While within an IRF in which the source is moving towards the origin of the coordinate system, the same wavefront manifests at an earlier time T(-)<t. This must be so since the wavefront does not move within aether.
The times T(+), t and T(-) are DIFFERENT NON-SIMULTANEOUS times: However, T(+) is simultaneously valid within all possible IRF's: Similarly t is simultaneously valid within all possible IRF's: And similarly T(-) is simultaneously valid within all possible IRF's. Thus, time is NOT a fourth coordinate that can take on different values at the same SINGLE instant. The latter is obviously a contradiction in terms which must be rejected in terms of reductio ad absurdum.
Furthermore, space cannot contract or warp. Only a matter-object with rest-mass m(0) becomes longer with increasing speed along the direction it is moving. This increase in length is required since a matter object moves like an EM wave with a de Broglie wavelength; and it is also required to accommodate its increase in energy (kinetic energy T) which is given by T=m*c^2-m(0)*c^2.
Thus, there is no space-time manifold that can warp to propel a spacecraft through space at a speed that is faster than the speed of light.
There might, however, be another way, and that is to "entangle" the spacecraft within a SINGLE stationary electromagnetic wave. A single EM wave is in instantaneous contact with itself so the an entangled entity can teleport across this wave from one position in space to another position in space. Thus Captain Kirk will not just ask Scotty to beam him up, but also Mr Sulu to near-istantaneously beam the spaceship across space. But for this one needs a single stationary EM wave that fills the universe. Is this possible? Yes it might be opossible that the microwave background radiation (MBR) fundamentally consists of stationary EM waves that fill the volume of the whole universe.
Just a thought!
Biting the hand that feeds IT
