[IMG]http://i39.tinypic.com/24ood1k.png[/IMG]
Also known as Rosslyn sail or something.
You see, the problem with interstellar travel is that interstellar distances are fucking huge. Then you have the problem of incredibly-large-mass-ratios and deadly-space-junk.
A proposed solution was the [URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bussard_ramjet]Bussard Fusion Ramjet[/URL]: This useda magnetic field to collect Hydrogen atoms, using them for fusion and, therefore, propulsion. To get a good idea, run (Don't walk) and buy a copy of Poul Anderson's Tau Zero.
The good thing about the Bussard Ramjet is that it can accelerate forever. The bad things:
- It requires proton-proton fusion (It uses raw Hydrogen instead of isotopes like Deuterium-Helium³ fusion)
- Good luck fusing Hydrogen while it's moving at relativistic speeds
- Slowing Hydrogen down, for fusion, would generate more drag than thrust.
Don't worry, these are [URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bussard_ramjet#Discussions_of_feasibility]assumptions[/URL].
The solution? A good idea is Charles Pellegrino's and James Powell's [URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Valkyrie]Project Valkyrie[/URL], but that requires us to invent self-replicating nanorobots to build the Asimov Arrays and produce antimatter for the Valkyries.
So I came up with the Rosslyn drive: A Bussard Ramjet/Magnetic Sail crossover that can accelerate forever and could be built any day now.
A magnetic sail is basically a superconductor ring that catches solar wind (Solar wind is plasma from the Sun, ionized Hydrogen atoms) for thrust. This is not really efficient, and it becomes weaker as it moves away from the star due to the inverse square law.
The Rosslyn Drive is a superconducor ring that generates a magnetic field. A [URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fission-fragment_rocket]fission-fragments rocket[/URL] gets the ship up to 5% lightspeed. At this speed, it should get (According to my math) 1,500,000 Hydrogen atoms per square kilometer of area (Remember that the field is several thousands of kilometers in diameter). A UV light ionizes Hydrogen from the interstellar medium, allowing the field to catch it. Then, the Hydrogen is accelerated, through a mass driver/coilgun, or a linnear particle accelerator, or simply used as reaction mass for an ion drive.
(Note that while ion drives have high specific impulse they have low thrust. This is not a technical problem that will be solved later, it is a physical problem. For details: [url]http://www.projectrho.com/rocket/rocket3c2.html[/url], it's under "Ion")
It would have a low acceleration, I give you that, but the Rosslyn drive is theoretically capable of accelerating [B]forever[/B]. As the ship approaches lightspeed, it receives more atoms. To slow down, simply slow down Hydrogen into tanks, then use those as reaction mass for the ion drive.
Mandatory Blender3d Explanation:
[IMG]http://i42.tinypic.com/rhpu8w.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i43.tinypic.com/3ud5v.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i41.tinypic.com/vzcugz.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i40.tinypic.com/hugi9h.png[/IMG]
Sample:
[IMG]http://i44.tinypic.com/2hf2adu.png[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i44.tinypic.com/wufb68.png[/IMG]
[I]"And there you have it. In our lifetime: interstellar flight, Star Trek – call it what you will; and we shall have it too, if only we are wise, and pay attention.
There are wonders, out there, of which you and I have scarcely begun to dream; and some of them are closer than you think."[/I]
- Charles Pellegrino
I haven't done the math yet, but it would be cool to see a ship with my name on it :buddy:
bitch are you for real?
How the hell did you come up with this? Sell the design to NASA and you'll make millions. :biggrin:
You should register that before someone does.
to bad you posted it here and now everyones gonna steal it
snip the fuck out of that and contact someone who can help you get in touch with nasa
eudoxia wants to be captain kirk
[editline]05:40PM[/editline]
[QUOTE=BlazeFresh;21414187]snip the fuck out of that and contact someone who can help you get in touch with nasa[/QUOTE]
believe it or not nasa already knows about this stuff :P
[QUOTE=jota de;21414174]You should register that before someone does.[/QUOTE]
This. Now that you've posted it on Facepunch some fag might do it before you. Hurry up.
[editline]06:41PM[/editline]
[QUOTE=wonkadonk;21414195]eudoxia wants to be captain kirk
[editline]05:40PM[/editline]
believe it or not nasa already knows about this stuff :P[/QUOTE]
They don't, otherwise it would be in space.
[QUOTE=jetboy;21414228]They don't, otherwise it would be in space.[/QUOTE]
Do you know how long they take before something can actually be launched into space?
Suck it bitch, this is now pending with the US patent office under my name. Online filing fuck yea.
[QUOTE=jetboy;21414228]They don't, otherwise it would be in space.[/QUOTE]
nasa has came up with lots of interstellar ship ideas but they haven't been able to muster up the budget to do such things
Yeah uh, you might want someone credible to check over that. There probably are many problems that you aren't even aware of. But still, it's some nice shit dude, I'm going to build one now.
[QUOTE=Jund;21414249]Do you know how long they take before something can actually be launched into space?[/QUOTE]
No.
Shit, we're chatting with a potential rocket scientist here... no, more than that, this is gonna be fucking revolutionary. You have my moral support.
:dance:
OP, have you ever taken any IQ test? I'm talking serious IQ tests not those internet bullshit ones. I'm curious about the score, you keep coming up with this huge number of threads with awesome space shit in them.
Dude snip it and get onto nasa
[QUOTE=Soul-Chicken;21414459]Dude snip it and get onto nasa[/QUOTE]
I'm sure they know this stuff or would find a fuckton of flaws.
Plus I don't really care that much :/
Thats one sexy ve-hicle.
eudoxia what do you think of the potential of using liquid methane as rocket fuel for launching things into space
Looks interesting.
[editline]01:01AM[/editline]
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;21414484]I'm sure they know this stuff or would find a fuckton of flaws.
Plus I don't really care that much :/[/QUOTE]
Well throw it at someone who's more credible than you and have them check over your shit
Screw NASA. Let's make the Facepunch Space Agency or FSA.
[quote=darkness_2;21414665]screw nasa. Let's make the facepunch space agency or fsa.[/quote]
FUCK YEAH!
[sp]caps[/sp]
[QUOTE=DarkSpirit05er;21414449]OP, have you ever taken any IQ test? I'm talking serious IQ tests not those internet bullshit ones. I'm curious about the score, you keep coming up with this huge number of threads with awesome space shit in them.[/QUOTE]
Yes, the result was 140 I think.
But most of those threads are just stuff I know and just post it there. I know the theory, but don't get along with the practice (a.k.a I Fail Maths Forever).
As far as I can tell, you haven't included a power source in you description of this ship. Would it run off of fusion of excess protons captured by the magnetic sail?
[QUOTE=Error_404;21415126]As far as I can tell, you haven't included a power source in you description of this ship. Would it run off of fusion of excess protons captured by the magnetic sail?[/QUOTE]
Probably a nuclear reactor to power the UV lights and the magnetic field, not to mention crew.
A fusion one would be better, because Helium³ could be collected from comets along the way, and there's some Deuterium in insterstellar Hydrogen. Plus it requires a dickload of power so it's important to have a good reactor.
Hey guys! Check out this "Flyboy Drive" I made!
[URL]http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=925338[/URL]
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;21415159]Probably a nuclear reactor to power the UV lights and the magnetic field, not to mention crew.
A fusion one would be better, because Helium³ could be collected from comets along the way, and there's some Deuterium in insterstellar Hydrogen. Plus it requires a dickload of power so it's important to have a good reactor.[/QUOTE]
If it were built in orbit around the moon, then you could probably fill it to the brim with Helium³ quite easily, which would mean you don't need a heavy fission reactor weighing it down.
Another problem I can see is getting the superconductor to stay cold (and hence remain superconductive). You'd need either a massive heatsink, or an efficient way of converting heat into electricity or other forms of energy.
[QUOTE=Error_404;21415850]
You'd need either a massive heatsink[/QUOTE]
[img]http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Computex2006/Thermalright/images/hr01_2.jpg[/img]
:science:
eudoxia, what do you think the future of launching things into space is? mass divers, or "green" fuel like methane?
[QUOTE=wonkadonk;21416088]eudoxia, what do you think the future of launching things into space is? mass divers, or "green" fuel like methane?[/QUOTE]
Lofstrom Loops
Things are accelerated along a magnetic rail, kind of like a railgun, but the tether is kept floating above Earth (Anchored). That way is better.
Another option is to magnetically accelerate projectiles through a mass driver/coilgun/linnear accelerator. At the end, the tracks curve upwards, launching the payload into space. A free electron laser is fired at the payload to keep it going.
Marshall Savage describes it as a "Bifrost Bridge", a sort of rainbow to heaven (In norse mythology the rainbow lead to Asgard I think, so if you look it up you'll find a lot of results about norse mythology)
Chemical rockets are not the most efficient way because they require lots of fuel. Nuclear rockets would be better if people weren't so afraid of the N word.
Greenpeace's worst nightmare: The Super Nexus nuclear rocket.
For more info: [url]http://www.projectrho.com/rocket/rocket3ay.html[/url]
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