Shielding spacecraft via magnets

[Thomassino]

I just had this idea to use magnetic fields to deflect solar wind from spacecraft to protect it from radiation. Just like miniaturized version of Earth's magnetic field. What do you think about it?

[RainDreamer]

Bigelow Aerospace already patented it.

[Hcube]

I just had this idea to use magnetic fields to deflect solar wind from spacecraft to protect it from radiation. Just like miniaturized version of Earth's magnetic field. What do you think about it?

I guess it could shield the craft from charged particles of the solar wind, but i don't think that electromagnetic radiation like UV, Xray and gamma rays (the dangerous ones) can be repelled by a magnetic field this way.

[MinimumSky5]

I guess it could shield the craft from charged particles of the solar wind, but i don't think that electromagnetic radiation like UV, Xray and gamma rays (the dangerous ones) can be repelled by a magnetic field this way.

That's the big issue with using a magnetic shield, the EM radiation isn't stopped, and that's the biggest threat to astronauts in space. Earths magnetic field is useful primarily to protect the atmosphere from erosion by the solar wind, the atmosphere is actually a better shield.

[prophet_01]

It could still be quite handy to have such a thing in the van allen belt and potentially near jupiter.

But either way such a device is probably very heavy, even compared to massive shielding with water for example. Not even sure if such a massive field could be operated with anything else than a fission reactor...

[Elthy]

Not even sure if such a massive field could be operated with anything else than a fission reactor...

How about super conductors? Im not sure how hard it is to cool them in space but once you got the magnetic field up you wont need power to sustain it.

[YNM]

How about super conductors? Im not sure how hard it is to cool them in space but once you got the magnetic field up you wont need power to sustain it.

F = q(B x v), no electric charge (or current) = no force to repel. Unless you're talking about static magnets, which superconductivity isn't a boon for it AFAIK.

[Kaos]

The magnetic field of earth does not repel particles but moves them on a spiral trajectory, so they travel a very long way through the atmosphere, much longer than the atmosphere is thick. This blocks some of the particles, the others are going down where the magnetic poles are.

On a ship you could also use magnets to move the particles to a position in the ship where they harm less.

[RainDreamer]

Boeing Aerospace also have a patent about magnetic radiation shield, using superconductive material and stuff.

[xenomorph555]

Now that I remember it a British research lab actually created a small prototype of a type of electromagnetic shield, they were trying to recreate the Earth's magnetosphere. I worked but I haven't seen it pop up since .

I should also note how much I hate patents like these;

1. The company's never use them.

2. They stop other entities inventing/spreading them.

3. They hinder humanity because of one company's greed.

One of the reasons I sort of hate commercial space.

[PB666]

I guess it could shield the craft from charged particles of the solar wind, but i don't think that electromagnetic radiation like UV, Xray and gamma rays (the dangerous ones) can be repelled by a magnetic field this way.

UV - you don't care you need metal, glass and plastic anyway, easy enough to block

Xray and Gamma - Xray burst (i.e. CMEs) can be shield by embedded heavy metals in the metals, glass or plastic, gamma you really don't care that much.

Cosmic rays - Thats a bigger issue

Primary risk in space is not radiation is vacuum. You manage the radiation as a biproduct of dealing with the vacuum, that leaves pretty much cosmic radiation.

Secondary risk in space is loss of heart and muscle strength as a consequence of zero gravity.

[Albert VDS]

Instead of magnets, why not metal foam?

Metal foams could make promising radiation shields

Lightweight composite metal foams are effective at blocking harmful radiation, according to a new study carried out by researchers in the US. Indeed, the foams can efficiently block X-rays, gamma rays and neutron radiation, and could also absorb the energy of high-impact collisions. The research may pave the way to metal foams being used in medical imaging, nuclear safety, space exploration and other shielding applications.

I should also note how much I hate patents like these;

1. The company's never use them.

2. They stop other entities inventing/spreading them.

3. They hinder humanity because of one company's greed.

Agreed, but it's more a problem of the government allowing patents to be used that way.

[vger]

Bigelow Aerospace already patented it.

Have they showed it to NASA? There's currently a contest with a cash award for radiation shield ideas.

[RainDreamer]

N

I should also note how much I hate patents like these;

1. The company's never use them.

2. They stop other entities inventing/spreading them.

3. They hinder humanity because of one company's greed.

One of the reasons I sort of hate commercial space.

While I share the same sentiment on patent trolls, I think Bigelow and Boeing will actually use their tech, being in the aerospace industry and all. Especially Bigelow and their inflatable base/space station modules.

Have they showed it to NASA? There's currently a contest with a cash award for radiation shield ideas.

I don't think I can find that information without insider knowledge.

[vger]

I don't think I can find that information without insider knowledge.

Looks like it's over now too. Here's the list of winners and a very brief synopsis of their ideas (I think it's relevant in this thread ).

http://www.space.com/29512-mars-mission-radiation-nasa-challenge.html

[Sampa]

I think the biggest problem is what it could do to communications or other navigational equipment...but that's just me being silly I guess!

[PB666]

I think the biggest problem is what it could do to communications or other navigational equipment...but that's just me being silly I guess!

Bigger problem is scientific instruments. Why are you in space.

[Thomassino]

Bigger problem is scientific instruments. Why are you in space.

Yeah, it would really jam instruments like magnetometers but if you know the exact strenght of onboard field, you can calibrate it to function properly.

[vger]

If it's an electrically-generated field, can't it just be switched off while using sensitive equipment?

Shouldn't be a problem as long as the astronauts aren't bathing in radiation constantly.

[Nothalogh]

I just had this idea to use magnetic fields to deflect solar wind from spacecraft to protect it from radiation. Just like miniaturized version of Earth's magnetic field. What do you think about it?

Go with Nuclear Pulse Propulsion and you can use lead sheeting and not even dent your delta v budget

[DaMichel]

Not so long ago i read an article on cosmic rays causing dementia like brain degeneration. See this article for example

http://news.uci.edu/press-releases/long-term-galactic-cosmic-ray-exposure-leads-to-dementia-like-cognitive-impairments/

(just search "cosmic ray dementia")

So i guess a Mars mission will absolutely need good shielding. But what i find interesting is that the authors used only charged particles, "For the study, rodents were subjected to charged particle irradiation (fully ionized oxygen and titanium) ...". What do you guys think, does photon based radiation have similar effects (i guess so, since it's ionizing)?

Big lead panels and nuclear engines might be a little impractical But the article suggest that medications will be developed in order to fight these conditions. Which would be cool since it will help here on earth, too

[Thomassino]

Go with Nuclear Pulse Propulsion and you can use lead sheeting and not even dent your delta v budget

It would be definitely doable, but bigger issue than engineer, built and launch one would be to persuade those "anti-nuclear" people who are against it.

Not so long ago i read an article on cosmic rays causing dementia like brain degeneration. See this article for example

http://news.uci.edu/press-releases/long-term-galactic-cosmic-ray-exposure-leads-to-dementia-like-cognitive-impairments/

(just search "cosmic ray dementia")

So i guess a Mars mission will absolutely need good shielding. But what i find interesting is that the authors used only charged particles, "For the study, rodents were subjected to charged particle irradiation (fully ionized oxygen and titanium) ...". What do you guys think, does photon based radiation have similar effects (i guess so, since it's ionizing)?

Big lead panels and nuclear engines might be a little impractical But the article suggest that medications will be developed in order to fight these conditions. Which would be cool since it will help here on earth, too

Photon-based radiation can be shielded easily because it is not very permeable as far as I know. And you need to shield only habitation module which is probably not going to be very large, and of course Orion Command pod, which is already shielded (and crew wouldn't have to spent there very long time - they can be inside the hab most of the time). Another issue aside from radiation is blurred vision caused by body fluids pressure on eyeballs.

Edited August 4, 2015 by Thomassino