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Shields up! British working on energy deflectors for spaceships
If the British have their way, we'll never have any superheroes created by cosmic-ray mishaps in space. Scientists from across the pond are working on a Star Trek-like energy shield that would protect spacecraft from harmful — and potentially superpower-bestowing — radiation.
The basis of the idea is to build around the ship a small-scale replica of Earth's magnetosphere, which prevents the planet from getting showered with energetic particles. To create the deflector shield, the craft would have to first surround itself with a magnetic field, then fill it with plasma, which would be held in place by the field. When badass particles from things like solar wind hit the plasma, their energy is sapped and they slow down.
And presumably, if another spaceship were to fire, say, a high-energy particle beam at a ship equipped with one of these shields, it would sap the energy of that, too. Eat it, Ur-Quan! Less fictional applications might include a second layer of radiation protection for the permanent moonbase that NASA wants to build, so astronauts could make critical repairs during periods of solar-flare activity. Not quite as much fun, but useful nonetheless.
Via BBC
By ptrobrn at 2:30 AM ON 04/26/07
Ok So lets say the sheild works... You fly along minding your own business. Suddenly here comes an alien craft that starts shooting at you. Ok the sheilds work, but are weakend with each volley. The sheilds fall... The entire crew is then blasted by a massive solar wind emission... game over man... aliens get a free ship. Sounds to me where sheilding built into the walls and hull of the vessel would be far more protective under circumstances where the shields are inoperable.
By AscendedMaster at 2:49 AM ON 04/26/07
Awesome sauce.
I'm sure that deflector shields wouldn't be the only line of defence. Everyone knows energy shielding would be useless against YUX limpet cocoons.
By DavemanXP at 6:54 AM ON 04/26/07
Dis is so preeking kewool! I want one for my car. Next time some tupit kid wants to shoot my fly ride wit a spit baw - I jus say (Sulu style) "SHIELDS! SHIELDS!" an let dat kid eat spit. Yeah - life in the O.C. (old car) be good!
Actually that does rather sound auspiciously grand. I'll take two.
By proverb311031 at 9:30 AM ON 04/26/07
The best way for your sheilds to remain in place in all instances, is to convert the enegry that hits the shelds into a source to supply the sheilds. Its kinds of like a chinese puzzle, the more force you put into trying to get throught the sheilds, the stronger the sheilds become, the engery of the attack or from natural sources is part of the enegry supply for the sheilds, thereby you require less enegry to run the sheilds and you have a greatly decreased chance of your sheilds failing.
By proverb311031 at 9:31 AM ON 04/26/07
The best way for your shields to remain in place in all instances, is to convert the energy that hits the shields into a source to supply the shields. Its kinds of like a Chinese puzzle, the more force you put into trying to get thought the shields, the stronger the shields become, the energy of the attack or from natural sources is part of the energy supply for the shields, thereby you require less energy to run the shields and you have a greatly decreased chance of your shields failing.
By proverb311031 at 9:37 AM ON 04/26/07
If you tryed to create a magnet field like that it would be very easy to detect at any range, considering your not a planet, and anyone would want to find out why there is a magentic field like to planet in the middle of nowhere! It's not stealthy!
By proverb311031 at 10:05 AM ON 04/26/07
The best way for your shields to remain in place in all instances, is to convert the energy that hits the shields into a source to supply the shields. Its kinds of like a Chinese puzzle, the more force you put into trying to get thought the shields, the stronger the shields become, the energy of the attack or from natural sources is part of the energy supply for the shields, thereby you require less energy to run the shields and you have a greatly decreased chance of your shields failing. Plus it would help to magnetize the bulk heads for added protection.
To counter the effects of radiation we need only take the traits of lead and impart them into the structure of any space-craft of space-station, for radiation protection. This is why I believe that NASA has been lying for years about going to the moon. They have been telling people that they could protect astronauts for radiation with a thin aluminum shell, if anyone believes that I got a town that I can sell to you for 1 dollar. We have trouble with our satellites if they are not properly shielded, and because they are protected by the Earth's radiation belts. You can test it with your microwave to see how much radiation you can detect that get through aluminum 4 inches thick. Everyone knows the moon has no protective barrier, and the time spent going between the Moon and the Earth and back, you would be totally exposed to constant radiation for the Sun.
If you tried to create a magnet field like that it would be very easy to detect at any range, considering you’re not a planet, and anyone would want to find out why there is a magnetic field like to planet in the middle of nowhere! It's not stealthy!
By jafagh-tealk at 9:41 PM ON 04/26/07
I love technology, i hope they get it. i think almost anything is possible. kudos to the britts. i just wish the the rest of the world would set their minds toward advancing technology instead of drama
By alien245 at 2:02 PM ON 04/27/07
make shields not war thats my thought
By 2012 at 6:26 PM ON 08/30/09
ok is it possible to use this shield on larger scale saying if u can cover entire planet with out any negitive effect maybe thats wat we should b workin on instead of war machines do that later there much more serious things to attend too for expample 2012 go to this website if u havnt been already google it ihc21012.com if u havnt been watchin tv then dunno were u been for the past 30 years.com
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