mmmmm, looks interesting.....
Posted by The_Evil_Lord (Member # 256) on :
Now if we would only turn theory into practice, and apply this technology to make it cheaper, more reliabe, and whatnot, we would be one major step closer to those Marsian colonies.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
I've always considered Solar sail propultion to be only half of a technology. I mean its all well and good getting out away from the sun, but how the hell are you supposed to get back without using chemical or ion propultion? Since solar pressure only radiates out it means that as you go further out your return journey increaces exponencially. Without cryo or an extreamly efficient life support system it makes interstellar or interplanetary travel a little too difficult. Not to mention the fact that Solar sails are somehat vulnerable to micro meteorites and other space debris, both in strength and in surface area.
Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
Well, since the space program is more of a political thing and they are currently spending all their money on ISS and keeping the Russians in the race, it seems unlikely any form of colonization will happen in the near future. If only the Russians had the money again. They seem to have the most effective space program. They kept Mir operational for 15 years!
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
As for the return voyages using solar sails, I believe the "tacking into the wind" thing used on earthbound sailing vessels, probably in combination with some chemical propulsion, can be used to get ships back at good speeds.
Not to mention the fact that Solar sails are somehat vulnerable to micrometeorites and other space debris, both in strength and in surface area.
I'm not sure I see how a magnetic field can be much affected by rocks and debris...
Posted by The_Tom (Member # 38) on :
Tim, I think their point was that this magnetic system is immune to said problems, while the Bajoran-style big-sheets-of-stuff(tm) model isn't.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Exactly. Which is why I found Reverend's assertion to be invalid.
Posted by Neonatal Drone (Member # 605) on :
I prefer fisson or fusion reactors because they can almost speed of light.
Posted by Daniel (Member # 453) on :
Almost to the speed of light while expending grandiose amounts of fuel. According to a sci-fi writer's guide to practical space travel (it's actually pretty good) a ship powered by fusion would require something on the order of 1.6 billion tons of hydrogen propellant for every ton of payload, if it were to travel somewhere close to .9 c.
A ship powered by matter/antimatter reactions on the other hand, would "only" require 20,000 tons of matter and 20,000 tons of antimatter for every ton of payload.
At our current level of understanding, it's impractical to use these methods of propulsion to get near light speed. That's why people look toward other concepts such as solar sails. This magnetic sail is even better, because (according to the same book) interstellar space is pervaded by magnetic fields. They're out there, so use 'em.
[ June 24, 2001: Message edited by: Daniel ]
Posted by Da_bang80 (Member # 528) on :
I was reading in a magazine (Popular Science to be exact) that scientists were dreaming up new forms of propulsion. on of them was a large sail that acted like a one way window. Letting particles and energy pass through one side but reflect on the other, creating a very efficient form of propulsion.
They also thought of one that acts like a wodden boat in a bathtub. when you add detergent it changes the surface tension of water and propels the boat. It is called a Bias Drive. and alters the properties of space itself. to reduce gravity on one side to produce thrust. like the bathtub boat.this is all speculation right now. but i decided to include it cause it sound pretty cool.
Posted by Daniel (Member # 453) on :
Heh. I read that aricle. Very interesting concepts, even though they didn't detail them nearly as much as I would have liked. All coming out of NASA, too, if I'm not mistaken.
Posted by Da_bang80 (Member # 528) on :
yes. NASA, well i wonder what kind of other crazy secrets they got floating around there. it also has an article describing some sort of idea that people walked on north american soil thousands of years before we thought. pretty wierd stuff.
Im trying to get rid of this "junior member" crap, so i can get one of those cool sayings.i think i'm almost there.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Uh...considering the fact that the earliest generally agreed upon date puts humans in North America somewhere around 16,000 years ago, I'm not sure I see why an extra thousand plus or minus is all that weird. Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
"Im trying to get rid of this 'junior member' crap, so i can get one of those cool sayings.i think i'm almost there."
Not even close.
Posted by Da_bang80 (Member # 528) on :
how much longer do i have to put up with "junior Member" then?
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Uh... I think it's 250 posts, but I could be wrong...
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
This idea for a new type of propulsion - I'm guessing that it will replace the recently proposed Plasma Drive that NASA are working on. And also, how about a Gravitic Drive - you know, like in Isaac Asimov's Foundation novels? Now that would be a cool way to 'hop' across the galaxy! Anyone know if this drive is similar to the one in the article and if anyone is attempting to build a prototype?
Anyone know if this drive is similar to the one in the article and if anyone is attempting to build a prototype?