Bill Phil Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 1 minute ago, Spaceception said: That's too theoretical, even today, I need something near-term, like NPP, or maybe laser sails. But it's an idea. Laser sails are about equally theoretical. Personally I'd go with Bussard ramjets. 12%c top speed, and amazingly light for that speed. You don't even need to have reaction mass be the fuel, it can still work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceception Posted February 28, 2016 Author Share Posted February 28, 2016 Just now, Bill Phil said: But it's an idea. Laser sails are about equally theoretical. Personally I'd go with Bussard ramjets. 12%c top speed, and amazingly light for that speed. You don't even need to have reaction mass be the fuel, it can still work. Alright, the "sail" needed would be a few km across, that could be doable with graphene/magnetic fields, but on the topic of slowing down, would collecting more H2 than need to fill up empty onboard tanks, and jettisoning the sail after the acceleration be good? Because I don't think you can collect H2 when the sail is backwards. Or can you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Phil Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 1 hour ago, Spaceception said: Alright, the "sail" needed would be a few km across, that could be doable with graphene/magnetic fields, but on the topic of slowing down, would collecting more H2 than need to fill up empty onboard tanks, and jettisoning the sail after the acceleration be good? Because I don't think you can collect H2 when the sail is backwards. Or can you? I think you could just use a magsail. Also, I recommend that the ship itself be an Orion design, capable of flying around the target solar system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceception Posted February 28, 2016 Author Share Posted February 28, 2016 Just now, Bill Phil said: I think you could just use a magsail. Also, I recommend that the ship itself be an Orion design, capable of flying around the target solar system. Alright. I was thinking that there could be tanks for excess hydrogen, and one the spacecraft enters orbit around Barnard's Star, it would jettison the sail, then do a flyby of the outer planet, and then get into orbit around the target planet. Also, am I assuming right that it would be capable of going to 12% c, and then slowing down since it get's fuel from space? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Phil Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 1 minute ago, Spaceception said: Alright. I was thinking that there could be tanks for excess hydrogen, and one the spacecraft enters orbit around Barnard's Star, it would jettison the sail, then do a flyby of the outer planet, and then get into orbit around the target planet. Also, am I assuming right that it would be capable of going to 12% c, and then slowing down since it get's fuel from space? Which system are you using? Sail, ramjet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceception Posted February 28, 2016 Author Share Posted February 28, 2016 Just now, Bill Phil said: Which system are you using? Sail, ramjet? Ramjet Also, what would be the best shape for the sail? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Phil Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 Just now, Spaceception said: Ramjet Also, what would be the best shape for the sail? Okay, a mag sail may not be necessary. It's probably able to slow down on its own power. Depends. May be a staged design with a Bussard ramjet stage and a mag sail deceleration stage, that doubles as an Orion? Idk, it's your design. If you use a mag sail, I recommend doing more research. All I really know is that it involves using magnetic principles to act against the stellar medium, slowing you down, and that you probably need super conductors... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceception Posted February 28, 2016 Author Share Posted February 28, 2016 (edited) I need to go somewhere, I'll be back for a few hours Edited February 28, 2016 by Spaceception Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meve12 Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 Funny thing, the magsail as a concept came about when some guys computed the drag a Bussard Ramjet would exhibit. It's a lot. Your Bussard Ramjet can and probably will double as a magsail for the deceleration stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnemoe Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 41 minutes ago, meve12 said: Funny thing, the magsail as a concept came about when some guys computed the drag a Bussard Ramjet would exhibit. It's a lot. Your Bussard Ramjet can and probably will double as a magsail for the deceleration stage. Yes, an magsail is a bit easier to build than an bussard ramjet. Like an bussard ramjet the magsail would work better how faster you travel. Anybody has an idea of the requirement for one who brakes from 0.2c in 1-2 years? How low speed would it be inefficient? 1% c or lower you don't want to spend decades braking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Phil Posted February 28, 2016 Share Posted February 28, 2016 1 hour ago, meve12 said: Funny thing, the magsail as a concept came about when some guys computed the drag a Bussard Ramjet would exhibit. It's a lot. Your Bussard Ramjet can and probably will double as a magsail for the deceleration stage. Yeah, I was thinking about that, but I wanted there to be a more dedicated interplanetary craft as the final stage. The ramjet could keep going, maybe Tau Zero could happen, if we can surpass the drag problem. Actually, I think it was a related concept, but relied on different sources for power, using the particles collected only as propellant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredinno Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 8 hours ago, Bill Phil said: But you may not even need to go to another star system. Orbital colonies seem much more doable, unless the whole solar system is exploding. And you could just build a bunch and go a bunch of AU out... The speed of the sail depends on size and power of the laser. Black holes will release radiation, which would kill even before the black hole hits Earth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Phil Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 14 minutes ago, fredinno said: Black holes will release radiation, which would kill even before the black hole hits Earth. Depends on the size of the black hole. Big ones emit less, afaik. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceception Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 Alright, at this point all the sciencey stuff is done, so this will be moved to the lounge, and I'll begin posting chapters shorty What should I call the book? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceception Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 (edited) @Bill Phil @magnemoe @fredinno @PB666 @Halo_003 @Mitchz95 @Rakaydos @mikegarrison @meve12 Thank you for your help/participation, and I'd like to give you a name, so give me one, and I'll put it in the book Also, when I begin writing, criticism is welcome Edited February 29, 2016 by Spaceception Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Phil Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 (edited) @Spaceception Hmmm.... Maybe call the book "The Flight of the Rocinante." Idk, though. How about The Gulf, The Void, etc. Wait, do I get a character or something, is that what's happening. Also, I'm happy to help. Edited February 29, 2016 by Bill Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlas2342 Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Dont mind if i ask but what is this book about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceception Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 6 hours ago, Bill Phil said: @Spaceception Hmmm.... Maybe call the book "The Flight of the Rocinante." Idk, though. How about The Gulf, The Void, etc. Wait, do I get a character or something, is that what's happening. Also, I'm happy to help. All of those are already books Yup I forgot to put in my last post, criticism is welcome wen I start writing chapters. 5 hours ago, Atlas2342 said: Dont mind if i ask but what is this book about? The year is ____ (Around the 2020s, I haven't set a firm date yet), and scientists discover something unusual within the Oort cloud, a black hole, heading straight for the inner solar system, traveling at several hundred kph, they don't know how it got there with no one noticing, but shortly after the discovery, the worlds space programs decide to unite to build a spacecraft capable of saving humanity by launching it to a nearby star, and colonizing one of its planets, they have less than a few decades to build an launch it before the black hole enters the solar system, so they need to work fast, but everyone is asking the same question; will humanity go extinct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlas2342 Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 1 hour ago, Spaceception said: All of those are already books Yup I forgot to put in my last post, criticism is welcome wen I start writing chapters. The year is ____ (Around the 2020s, I haven't set a firm date yet), and scientists discover something unusual within the Oort cloud, a black hole, heading straight for the inner solar system, traveling at several hundred kph, they don't know how it got there with no one noticing, but shortly after the discovery, the worlds space programs decide to unite to build a spacecraft capable of saving humanity by launching it to a nearby star, and colonizing one of its planets, they have less than a few decades to build an launch it before the black hole enters the solar system, so they need to work fast, but everyone is asking the same question; will humanity go extinct? Ooh! Looks like I will read it... For the title perhaps "Darkness Unleashed" or "Into the Darkness" or "Event Horizon" (although I think it's taken already...)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceception Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 Just now, Atlas2342 said: Ooh! Looks like I will read it... For the title perhaps "Darkness Unleashed" or "Into the Darkness" or "Event Horizon" (although I think it's taken already...)? Thank you Oooooh, Darkness Unleashed, Great idea Although, I want to wait for other suggestions first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlas2342 Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Will the book cover the black hole's discovery and it's political, social, and economic effects ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceception Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 1 minute ago, Atlas2342 said: Will the book cover the black hole's discovery and it's political, social, and economic effects ? Political, and social, I'm not very good with economics, so that will be yours to judge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlas2342 Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 36 minutes ago, Spaceception said: Political, and social, I'm not very good with economics, so that will be yours to judge Meh, just add in the stock market destabilizing, prices getting higher, stuff like that and your good to go! Also wouldn't the gravitational pull destabilize the planets orbit? Maybe add a problem with asteroids flinging about and some small ones hitting the ship? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceception Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 Just now, Atlas2342 said: Meh, just add in the stock market destabilizing, prices getting higher, stuff like that and your good to go! Also wouldn't the gravitational pull destabilize the planets orbit? Maybe add a problem with asteroids flinging about and some small ones hitting the ship? I don't plan on hitting the ship with asteroids, as the space between them is so large, maybe close calls, but the Earth does go into an Ice age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlas2342 Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 2 minutes ago, Spaceception said: I don't plan on hitting the ship with asteroids, as the space between them is so large, maybe close calls, but the Earth does go into an Ice age. Meteors then? PS: I'm getting hyped about this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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