Is it possible to use particle beams to transport fuel & supplies to space?

[PJay_A]

Instead of using rocket technology to resupply space stations with fuel, water, and oxygen, would it be possible to develop a system where these raw materials would be embedded in focused particle beams generated on ground-based power stations to a satellite or space station target in earth orbit, where the beam would be captured and its particles filtered and processed out of it?

 

[derekmcd]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Instead of using rocket technology to resupply space stations with fuel, water, and oxygen, would it be possible to develop a system where these raw materials would be embedded in focused particle beams generated on ground-based power stations to a satellite or space station target in earth orbit, where the beam would be captured and its particles filtered and processed out of it? <br /> Posted by PJay_A</DIV></p><p>You might have issues avoiding scattering effects of the particles as they interact with the particles of the atmosphere.&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>

 

[coeptus]

<p>Fuel molecules traveling at high speed through our atmosphere would chemically combine with the oxygen there and be preburned on arrival at the space station.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>You also are essentially transmitting materials one atom or molecule at a time (think about it) and delivering appreciable quantites might take centuries.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Also, the atoms/molecules in the beam are traveling most likely at a significant percentage of the speed of light when they pass the space station (assuming the beam transmits through the atmosphere which is unlikely) so your system is wasting the kinetic energy of the beam.&nbsp; This is the vast majority of the energy the system yields at the station and it will be wasted.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>So it probably won't work, if it does, the materials supplied are ruined, it takes years to transmit one kilo of mass this way, and it wastes 99.999% of the energy utilized.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Other than that, go for it.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff00ff">If not for bad Pluck, I'd have no Pluck at all . . .</font></p><p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff">This is your vogon, posting under coeptus, and trying IE and Firefox  to see if either is faster with fewer misloads.  Erf !!</font></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[DrRocket]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Instead of using rocket technology to resupply space stations with fuel, water, and oxygen, would it be possible to develop a system where these raw materials would be embedded in focused particle beams generated on ground-based power stations to a satellite or space station target in earth orbit, where the beam would be captured and its particles filtered and processed out of it? <br />Posted by PJay_A</DIV></p><p>Current particles involve elementary particles traveling at speeds that are aignificant fraction of the speed of light.&nbsp; That does not provide a mechanism for tramsmitting specific molecules.&nbsp; It also means that transmitting macroscopic quantities of matter in that manner would require a HUGE amount of energy.</p><p>Energy efficiency in "beams" is generally very poor.&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>