Space flight and interplanetary travel

[nacnud]

Lead! I'll let you pay the launch costs of a lead sheild.<br /><br />

 

[nacnud]

Water is lighter for a given stopping power but also you’re going to need water anyway so why not use it for multiple purposes.<br /><br />One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that water is movable. In a relatively low radiation environment the water could be in a thin layer protecting a large volume, when the ship passed through a high radiation area (Van Allan belts, solar flare etc) the water could be easily moved into a thicker lay that protects a smaller volume.<br />

 

[grooble]

I bet 10ft of lead would do it

 

[holmec]

Pound for pound water may be lighter. but how thick does the water need to be in comparison with the lead to sheild the same amount of radiation. In my mind this remains to be seen. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

Also water is a fluid, when the ship is in motion water tends not to follow the ship and thus excert forces on the ship that are not desireable. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

What about concrete?<br />I can see many problems.<br />1. its brittle<br />2. its heavy for the amount you need<br /><br />I guess we could go on and on with materials and not accomplish much here. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

Anyone considered how acceleration will affect a crew over long periods?<br /><br />Why over long periods? Well if you want to go anywhere in the solar system, to maximize your time, you need to accerate for as long as possible. Right now our long term propulsion system(s?) acceleration is very low and the body can withstand it no problem. But what about when long term propulsion gets to be above 1g, that is greater than 10 meters per second squared? Sure its fun to think of weightlessness in space, but our bodies show signs of dismatling themselves - like bone mass loss. We need a constant force in one direction (relative to our bodies) to keep our stamina on planets. but the question is how much of a force can we live in and can we make a ship that will provide that force for the whole or the major part of the duration of a flight? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

Yet ther may be ways to compensate for water movement with some kind of sponge material. Also water doesn't have to be transported up but made with the use of fuel cells. So send up hydrogen and oxygen liquid, make water and electicity for crew and ship, have a recycling system. this may very well be the most condusive way for humans to coohabitate with the ship. It almost give a "Im on the farm" feeling. Heck, throw in some chickens and cows and you could be milking while looking up at Saturns rings.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>