Space propulsion technology

[Busa]

I am trying to develop a 'realistic' technology based that would enable a selfpowered ship to tavel for Pluto to Earth in 2 weeks. Any suggestion?

 

[AtramentousFlux]

Assuming an average Earth - Pluto distance of 6000 million km, a trip requiring a week of constant acceleration, flip over and another week of constant deceleration requires about 1.7g. That's realistically tolerable by humans and could be done with a large Project Orion style ship.

 

[Busa]

Assuming an average Earth - Pluto distance of 6000 million km, a trip requiring a week of constant acceleration, flip over and another week of constant deceleration requires about 1.7g. That's realistically tolerable by humans and could be done with a large Project Orion style ship.

Thanks, the people are humanoid not human. so what you are saying it that g force is the limiting factor.

 

[EricJ]

I mean 1.7g isn't a too much of a strain on the people, to just add my two cents. It's just over Earth gravity norm. Unless you want them to be inconvenienced dramatically by the g forces.

 

[AtramentousFlux]

g force is the limiting factor

It is, unless you want to introduce technology like inertial dampers / artificial gravity. That would probably not be compatible with your 'realistic' technology requirement though.

 

[EricJ]

It is, unless you want to introduce technology like inertial dampers / artificial gravity. That would probably not be compatible with your 'realistic' technology requirement though.

Maybe, but it's assumed that in the future artificial gravity of some sort will probably be introduced. So far The Expanse seemed to do it realistically (as real as it probably gets, somehow), but it's a thing to explore though for a two-week journey in the solar system.

 

[AtramentousFlux]

The Expanse seemed to do it realistically

In The Expanse, there is no artificial gravity, which is why it's reasonably realistic. When the ships are accelerating, the occupants feel the force due to acceleration (that's why they need 'the juice' to avoid stroking out under high g). When the ships are not accelerating, they are in free fall and need the magnetic boots to stick them to the floor.

 

[EricJ]

In The Expanse, there is no artificial gravity, which is why it's reasonably realistic. When the ships are accelerating, the occupants feel the force due to acceleration (that's why they need 'the juice' to avoid stroking out under high g). When the ships are not accelerating, they are in free fall and need the magnetic boots to stick them to the floor.

Yeah I remember that. Okay

 

[Busa]

I have been trying to figure out a tech. Based on fusion, magnetism and harvesting particles.

 

[AtramentousFlux]

Based on fusion, magnetism and harvesting particles.

Well, this sounds like a Bussard ramjet. I'm not sure that you can realistically sell the idea of achieving 1.7g with that, but maybe ...

 

[Stanley Steamboy]

I have been trying to figure out a tech. Based on fusion, magnetism and harvesting particles.

The novel Blindsight posits a magnetic collection of particles, but then converting some of them to antimatter via a signal containing the quantum information pulled from particles harvested near the sun.

A similar system just using stored antimatter could also work where gathered particles are partially annihilated and partially turned into reaction mass.

 

[cscooper]

Realistically, you'd have to go with Project Orion. It's likely the best way to accelerate quickly. Problem is, I don't know if a human could survive the impulse from each successive detonation.

I just use fusion drives for my invented world, for sublight propulsion, and invented a magical propulsion system for FTL (imposing limitations of course).

If you wanted to look into discredited but cool sound physics, you could look at Heim Hyperdrive (a spinning superconductor generating thrust), or the Q-drive. Or maybe an alcubierrie warp drive. (Not that that last one has been discredited... more unproven)

 

[AtramentousFlux]

I don't know if a human could survive the impulse from each successive detonation.

If Freeman Dyson says it will work, that's good enough for me:

 

[cscooper]

Then go for it

 

[Stanley Steamboy]

Realistically, you'd have to go with Project Orion. It's likely the best way to accelerate quickly. Problem is, I don't know if a human could survive the impulse from each successive detonation.

I just use fusion drives for my invented world, for sublight propulsion, and invented a magical propulsion system for FTL (imposing limitations of course).

If you wanted to look into discredited but cool sound physics, you could look at Heim Hyperdrive (a spinning superconductor generating thrust), or the Q-drive. Or maybe an alcubierrie warp drive. (Not that that last one has been discredited... more unproven)

If an Orion was so lightly made that the acceleration was dangerous, the radiation or blast would be a lot more deadly. Orion is well understood tech, and it is not high acceleration.

All FTL drive theories rely on something fake stuck in the middle of otherwise real physics, Alcubierre included.

 

[Busa]

I decided to place the only human in a sarcophagus filled with a gel that allows her to breathe. A bit like in the movie Abyss. The gel protects her from a sustained 4g acceleration.

 

[Taimour AlNeimat]

Will she be conscious in the gel? Being awake for that journey, unable to get out or do much for herself, sounds pretty unsettling. I'd be curious how much control she has over the pod, especially if she's the only human aboard and has to trust the others to let her out.